Wildfires burning in southern France are threatening the Tour de France’s Monday stage. Multiple outlets report that authorities monitor the fire conditions near the Pyrenees and that a decision is due later on Sunday on whether the race can proceed as scheduled. France 24 says the blaze has already scorched about 1,500 hectares and is part of a broader wave of wildfires across southern Europe driven by extreme heat. It reports that evacuations are being carried out in affected areas, and that officials express concern about the possibility of a prolonged, intense wildfire season.
The Local and Yahoo Sports similarly describe the threat to Monday’s stage and cite a statement from a senior local official. Yahoo Sports, quoting the newspaper Le Parisien, identifies the prefect for the Pyrénées-Orientales department, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, as stating that officials will decide later Sunday whether the stage will take place. Across the reports, the common focus is that fire risk and ongoing conditions determine whether the Tour route can be safely run.
