CPA makes urgent call to 'find a solution before the 2027 season' amid increasing intensity of heatwaves
The riders' union CPA has put out a press release at the start of stage 9, adding its voice to the ongoing discussions about the intense heat that has characterised the 2026 Tour de France so far, and led to a shortening of Sunday's stage.
"The CPA considers the decision to shorten the stage to be understandable and responsible given the weather conditions," reads the press release. "However this situation once again highlights the need to fully implement the extreme weather conditions protocol."
Following a meeting with a representative of the race jury and Tour organisers before the stage, the CPA has advocated for more rigorous implementation of weather protocols, requested that riders' representatives should be part of the decision-making protest, and has secured a 2% increase to the time limit.
"Following the discussions, it was agreed that, going forward, all parties would systematically meet to make race-related decisions whenever such difficult weather conditions endanger the riders' health...
"Given the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves, the CPA reaffirms that summer race start times must evolve in order to protect athletes' health. Riders remain fully committed to putting on the best possible show, but this must go hand in hand with adapting to the climate realities that cycling now faces."
The release ends with an urgent call "for discussions to be held with all stakeholders this winter, in order to find a solution before the 2027 season."
