By: Samuel Lin
The Tour de France is an arduous 21-day bicycle journey across 3,500 km miles of terrain, broken up into 21 stages. Recently, due to sweltering heat that has risen to 104 degrees, cyclists have struggled. Some have even dropped out. Competitors are finding ways to cool down and changing their race strategy because of the high temperatures.
Temperatures rose to over 100 degrees during stages 14 and 15 of the race, and the pavement reached a blistering 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thibaut Pinot, a French cyclist competing, said “It was horrible, a furnace,”
“I don’t think anyone likes to race for five hours in the 40 degrees [Celsius],” said Tadej Pogačar, another racer. “I don’t even think it’s healthy for us.”
The stifling heat is taking its toll on the cyclists. After stage 16, only 149 out of the original 172 were still in the race, after many dropped out due to the blistering conditions. Alexis Vuillermoz is a cyclist who suffered from heatstroke, withdrew after he threw up and collapsed.
Bikers and race officials are taking additional measures to combat the heat. Race officials have reserved 10,00 liters of water to spray on the pavement to prevent it from melting. In addition, while cyclists were not allowed to refuel in the final 20km or the beginning 30km in previous Tours, they are now allowed to refill water bottles and ice packs up to the final 5km.
Cyclists like Geraint Thomas are cooling down with ice pack vests. Others wear ice socks to cool their necks, carry extra water bottles, known as gidons, and stay in the shade. But these can only help so much in the extreme heat.
In the future, the race could change to accommodate the heat. It could be shortened or moved to the morning, when it is less hot.
This is not the first time athletes have had to deal with excessive heat. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, one athlete said he could die in the heat. Only 76 out of 106 runners completed the men’s marathon because the hot temperatures. The women’s marathon was moved to earlier in the day when it would be a little cooler.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/23/tour-de-france-heat-wave-climate-change/