Tour de France final stage
Photo: Mosa'ab Elshamy AP/TT.

Tour de France final stage shortened because of wildfires in southwest France

The extensive forest fires raging in southwestern France are also affecting Sunday’s finale of the Tour de France. Organizers decided on Saturday to shorten the stage from the planned 133 kilometers to 89.

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The change is being made because the French Interior Ministry has decided to redeploy some of the police forces, originally intended to secure the final stage of the Tour, to the fire-stricken areas.

"In a spirit of national solidarity with the affected areas and communities, the decision has been made to adapt the route for the final stage from Thoiry to Paris," the organizer wrote in a statement.

The stage will now start on the Champs-Élysées and include a few extra laps on the famous avenue. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar leads the race by nearly six and a half minutes.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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