Tour de France Femmes keeps Mont Ventoux stage despite wildfires, but bans spectators in risk areas

Could the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes be completed in full? For some time, there had been uncertainty over whether stage seven, finishing on the legendary Mont Ventoux, could go ahead as planned because of the wildfires affecting France. ASO has now provided the answer. The riders will not be affected by a route change, but spectators will face significant restrictions.

Wildfires have been causing problems in France for more than a month. Measures were already introduced in the Pyrenees during the early stages of the men’s Tour de France, while the final stage in Paris was shortened because emergency personnel were needed in the south of the country to help fight the fires. One week later, the Tour de France Femmes also came under pressure.

Mont Ventoux was intended to provide a spectacular conclusion to the queen stage, but the wildfires in the region made things difficult. A possible course alteration was openly discussed, while the Vaucluse department called on the organisers to take action. Local authorities proposed an alternative route towards the Giant of Provence that would avoid the areas facing the greatest fire risk.

Did ASO listen? The organiser held discussions with the relevant authorities and ultimately selected a different solution. In an official communiqué, ASO confirmed that the route will remain completely intact. There will therefore be no shortened stage and no alternative approach to Mont Ventoux. However, additional measures have been announced for the areas considered most vulnerable.

Those measures will primarily affect spectators. The most important change is that access will be prohibited along certain sections of the route. Fans will not be allowed to stand beside the road in the Dentelles de Montmirail natural area, on the section between Caromb, Crillon-le-Brave and Bédoin. Spectators will also be prohibited along the route from the village of Suzette to Malaucène.

Smoking and lighting fires will also be strictly forbidden. With these restrictions, the organisers hope to have found a workable compromise: the full stage remains in place, while the risk of additional fires is reduced. The complete route to Mont Ventoux can therefore be raced as scheduled, although some of the usually crowded roads on the approach to the iconic climb will be without spectators.