By: Cedric Wu

The famous bicycle race Tour de France is being threatened by an extreme heatwave throughout Europe. High temperatures, protestors and heat stroke have had detrimental effects on the race making its future an uncertain one.

The temperatures were so hot that organizers were forced to spray water on the roads to prevent them from melting. Tour de France officials also agreed on taking out certain rules that got rid of potential rehydration breaks for the cyclists. But they were still obligated to stick to their strict broadcasting schedule despite the heat, continuing the race without any other breaks.

This year’s Tour de France also came with another serious disruption. Climate Change protestors chained themselves together, intending to halt the race completely. The demonstration was done twice, stopping the race temporarily both times.

The heat is also extremely dangerous for the cyclists’ health. French cyclist Romain Barlet believed that this year’s heat was unlike anything he had experienced in ten years of doing the tour. Another cyclist, Alexis Vuillermoz got heat stroke in the Alps, vomiting and then collapsing.

“They’re white and green in their face, her arms covered with unabsorbed sunscreen.” Said 67 year-old spectator Evelyne Brunet “And then —her arms covered with unabsorbed sunscreen. And then those eyes! When they take those long turns up the mountains, when they look at the water.”

Such severe conditions call for drastic changes within the Tour de France program.

“We’re going to have to change the way the Tour de France is designed in the next few years,” said Matthieu Sorel, a French climate change expert.

However, such an effort might not be possible however, as the Race’s strict schedule is based on television times. Afternoons in July are profitable as they fit into many people’s schedules. Moving the race would require considerable recalculation, wasting time and money.

Forest fires have also been prominent within the race. Firefighters have always been on the caravan that leads the race. For all of the past races they have been treated with indifference, but this year, they were met with an incredible amount of applause from spectators.

The smell of burning wood along with closed stores and roves of fire trucks were prominent throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th stages of the race.

“The question we as a society have to ask is: Are we putting athletes into undue harm’s way in the quest for that kind of athletic spectacle?” says Stephen S. Cheung, a professional cyclist and professor of kinesiology. “How much is enough?”

Link to article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/23/tour-de-france-heat-wave-climate-change/