Tour de France Stage 3 to Proceed Without Spectators Amid Wildfires

Eastern Pyrenees, France — The third stage of the Tour de France to Les Angles will take place as scheduled, but without spectators, due to ongoing wildfires in the region. The prefect of the Eastern Pyrenees, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, confirmed that the event setup will be limited to the passage of riders and essential vehicles.

"The public is advised not to approach the route or finish area."

The Tour's publicity caravan will not operate, and a key access route to the stage finish has been closed to manage safety risks.

King of the Mountains: Pogacar's Generosity Shines

In the second stage, Tadej Pogacar helped his teammate Isaac del Toro secure his first stage win, while Pogacar narrowed his time gap to overall leader Jonas Vingegaard to just six seconds.

Vingegaard praised del Toro's talent, noting the selflessness shown by Pogacar in leading his teammate to victory.

Firefighting Efforts Intensify

Nearly 600 firefighters have been deployed to contain the wildfire. The French government recently authorized regional authorities to cancel or adapt stages if needed.

No Schedule Changes This Year

The riders' union, led by Pascal Chanteur, has advocated for earlier stage starts due to high temperatures, but no schedule changes are planned for this year's Tour.

Key Details at a Glance

• Stage 3: Proceeds without spectators due to wildfire risk.
• Public advisory: Stay away from the route and finish area.
• Stage 2 result: Pogacar led del Toro to stage win; Vingegaard retains overall lead.
• Fire response: Nearly 600 personnel deployed.
• Schedule: No changes for this year's Tour.