UCI takes measures against extreme heat at Tour de France

In a statement released on Tuesday, the sport’s governing body said it had decided, in agreement with the President of the Commissaires’ Panel and race organiser ASO, to relax the rules around rider feeding for the coming stages. The decision follows forecasts of severe heat across parts of France, with temperatures again expected to climb towards 40 degrees Celcius.

Under the temporary measure, teams will be allowed to hand out feeding bags in zones that were originally designated only for bottles. The UCI said the change is intended to make it easier for staff to provide several bottles to each rider at once, helping teams manage hydration in the conditions expected on the road.

The need for extra access to bottles had already been underlined after stage three. Speaking to Cyclism’Actu, Tom Pidcock described a frantic fight for hydration inside the peloton.

“It was like a war zone, everyone trying to get bottles,” he said. “I think we went through about 10,000 bidons today in the peloton.”

The measure will be introduced on a trial basis and assessed during the race, taking into account the weather, its effectiveness and its impact on the smooth running of the event.

The intervention comes as the peloton grows increasingly vocal about the health risks posed by extreme heat. On Monday, Matteo Trentin warned that cycling can no longer treat such conditions as a routine part of summer racing.

“For the heat, of course, I think we really need to sit at the table and find out what we’re going to do in the future, because it’s for sure not healthy,” the Tudor Pro Cycling rider told WielerFlits. “I don’t know if it’s safe, but it’s not healthy at all.”

Trentin said the issue is no longer limited to high temperatures during the stage itself. According to the Italian, the bigger problem is that riders are no longer able to recover properly once the racing is over.

“It has always been hot, but these latest heatwaves are very different,” he said. “It doesn’t get cool in the night anymore. Climate change is here. It’s not going to be next year. It’s now.”

Trentin believes the sport needs a more structural response, rather than relying on last minute changes once conditions become extreme.

“Right now, it is very difficult to change any plan that was already prepared for months,” he said. “But for the future, for sure, we need to sit at the table and start to think about it. Maybe starting at 12 under the sun is not a smart idea.”

Asked whether it was responsible to race in such conditions, Trentin was clear.

“No, it’s not,” he said. “If I was just a normal guy, I wouldn’t go out at this time of day.”