Tour de France Stage 9 shortened by 30 kilometres as extreme heat triggers red alert
CyclingSaturday, 11 July 2026 at 18:20
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Follow us on GoogleA red heat alert was already being discussed during the opening week of the Tour de France, and the protocol will now be applied for the first time on Stage 9. Sunday’s stage has been shortened by 30 kilometres because of an exceptionally intense heatwave, organiser ASO announced in a statement shortly after Tim Merlier won Stage 8.
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“Météo-France has placed the Corrèze department under a red alert because of an exceptionally intense heatwave. In light of this, the decision has been taken to modify the route of the ninth stage of the Tour de France, from Malemort to Ussel, on Sunday, July 12, 2026.”
“This decision has become necessary because of the exceptional weather conditions. The objective is to ensure that the race can take place under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert,” ASO said in its statement.
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Stage 9 shortened by 30 kilometers
The following measures have been introduced:
- The route for Stage 9 will be shortened to 155.5 kilometres, compared with the originally planned distance of 185.5 kilometres, a reduction of 30 kilometres.
- The start has been moved to 1:45 p.m. local time.
- Because of the route change, the race will deviate from the original course inside the neutralised zone and follow the D921 from Brive-la-Gaillarde directly towards Lanteuil, 147.8 kilometres from the finish in Ussel.
- The expected finish time remains approximately 5:30 p.m. local time.
“All government bodies, local authorities, security services, emergency and health services, accredited civil-protection organisations, volunteers and other stakeholders remain fully committed to ensuring that this stage runs smoothly,” the organiser added.
“Given the exceptionally high temperatures, everyone is strongly urged to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and the most vulnerable members of the community. People are advised to drink sufficient fluids regularly, limit physical activity during the hottest part of the day and follow the instructions issued by the authorities,” the statement concluded.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- No teammates on the Tourmalet. Too fast up the Tourmalet.
merganzer10-07-2026 - Reef is whistling past the graveyard by denying what was plain to see: Tadej crushed Jonas, beating him in the ascent and, even more decisively on the descent, where most of the gap was created. In the world of reality, rather than the fantsay that Reef related, Jonas will not become a better descender between now and Paris, and Tadej won't get less adept at the skill. Moreover, it wasn't only about the mano y mono, between the two Tour leaders, but the unraveling of Visma, and the dominance of UAE, especially IDT. Barring injury or some other anomalous occurrence, we'll look back at Tadej's win on stage six as the day he won the 2026 TDF.rjb10-07-2026
- Remco continues alternating between Dr. Jekyl and, as he did today post-race, Mr. Hyde, lashing out as others for not racing according to his preferences. This isn't the first time he's complained about opponents' tactics, but it's the first time I've heard him do it to a teammate, and that lack of discretion and team loyalty may come back to haunt him. I though he'd outgrown these childish pouts; obviously, I was mistaken.rjb10-07-2026
- - How many times has Pog actually worn yellow now? The article hints he’s lost count—anyone got the exact stat?robert6506-07-2026
- - Unreal start to the Tour: two punches in three days. If he’s taking yellow this early, the real game is load management before the first true summit finish.davidm06-07-2026
- - Grandissimo Tadej! Maillot jaune meritato, squadra perfetta oggi.sprocketspiny06-07-2026
- - Not sure I buy the “nothing really tough” description. 3,850m of climbing in that heat is brutal, even if the gradients aren’t HC. Felt a bit dismissive.cadencekingm06-07-2026
- - Pogacar’s humour about the gels was gold. Also, nice to see him credit Del Toro. That Barcelona gesture coming back today was a proper team arc.michael5406-07-2026
- - Quick question: when they say “break got a free pass” by Visma, does that mean Visma just stopped chasing completely? Or is it more like they eased but still controlled the gap?velodromevirtuoso106-07-2026
- - Sorry, but the piece glosses over how Vermeersch shredded the gap. That was the hinge of the stage. Give him more credit than a single line.raceready706-07-2026
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