Tour de France puts in extra measures to protect peloton in sizzling heat

As a heatwave continues to engulf much of Europe, the Tour de France is taking additional measures to ease the burden on the peloton.

As part of a number of changes made by race organizer ASO for stage 15, riders will be able to pick up bottles from the first kilometer until 10k to go. The time cut calculation has also been set at 20 percent regardless of the average speed.

So that riders don’t have to store up bidons for fear of falling foul of littering rules, they will be allowed to pass off bottles to fans at any point on the course. Bottles will also be available from the race ambulance as well as neutral service vehicles.

Also read: Soaring temperatures turn up the heat on Tour de France peloton: ‘It was a furnace’

The decisions were taken after a meeting between representatives of ASO, the rider union the CPA, team union the AIGCP, and the head of the medical service.

Temperatures have been rising over the second week of the Tour de France and the mercury is set to hit close to 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) in Sunday’s 202.5k stage from Rodez to Carcassone.

In addition, a stage with a fast average speed can be given a bigger percentage than a slower one. With only a few lower-ranked climbs, Sunday’s stage would have seen a shorter time cut compared to earlier in the week.

ASO’s decision means that regardless of the speed of the bunch throughout stage 15, the riders will have an additional fifth of the time of the winner to make it to the finish line.

Teams have been taking their own measures to ensure their riders don’t overheat with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert reporting that the team had stocked up 300 bidons — many of which will likely be thrown over the riders — and 80 ice socks to keep the riders cool.

Specialized cooling gilets have also become a common accessory for riders while those stopped to speak with the media are being shaded by umbrellas.