Tour de France Stages Could Be Shortened as Heatwave Death Toll Exceeds 2,000 in France and Spain

As the so-called "Omega heat dome" blankets Europe, the preliminary death toll related to the heatwave in France and Spain alone has exceeded 2,000 for the month of June.

With the heatwave expected to persist through this month, discussions are underway to shorten some stages of the Tour de France, a cycling race that has never been canceled except during times of war.

According to reports from the British daily The Guardian and other sources on July 2 (local time), Spanish authorities have recorded 1,029 excess deaths attributed to the June heatwave.

French authorities also estimated that approximately 1,000 additional people died toward the end of June compared to the same period in previous years.

Combined, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people have died due to the heatwave in these two southern European countries last month.

Authorities believe that the current heatwave, caused by an Omega-shaped heat dome surrounding Europe, will not subside through July.

An official from the Spanish meteorological agency warned that a mass of hot, dry air would bring sweltering heat across Spain, with temperatures in some southeastern regions potentially soaring to as high as 44°C (111°F) on July 2.

Due to the impact of the heatwave, organizers are considering shortening some stages of the world-renowned Tour de France, which is scheduled for early July.

Ahead of the 2026 Tour de France, which is set to start in Barcelona, Spain, in July, an official from the organizing committee told The Guardian that they are seriously considering the possibility of shortening the race stages.

The official added, "It is not the first time we have faced such a situation, but because we have already gone through so much in May and June, the situation is more serious this time."

The Guardian noted that while the Tour de France has faced disruptions due to wars, strikes, and pandemics in the past, it has never had stages canceled due to a heatwave.

This year marks the first time the Tour de France, which began in 1903, will start in Barcelona. As scheduled, the race will travel through Spain and France until the end of July to determine the final winner.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.