Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France faced significant alterations as it was shortened by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in the Corrèze département of central France. The stage from Malemort to Ussel will now cover 155.5km instead of the original 185.5km.

In an official statement, the Tour emphasized, “This decision aims to ensure that the race can take place under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert.” With temperatures nearing 40°C, competitors have voiced concerns about the extreme heat, prompting suggestions to start stages earlier to mitigate the impact.

The French government had previously empowered regional authorities to modify or cancel stages when necessary. For instance, stage three through the Pyrenees was conducted without the publicity caravan, and roadside spectators were banned due to nearby wildfires.

Pascal Chanteur, president of the riders’ union, advocated for earlier starts, stating, “It’s better to change the start times than to risk cancelling a stage.”

Tim Merlier, fresh off his second stage win in Bergerac, welcomed the decision, noting, “It’s not a bad idea... every day has been higher than 35 degrees.”

As the stage unfolds, Tadej Pogacar, the Tour leader, rides confidently into Bergerac, seemingly having outpaced his rival Jonas Vingegaard. With a rest day approaching, Pogacar is strategizing to elevate his teammate Isaac del Toro into second place.

Despite the shortened route, the challenging terrain with two steep climbs in the final 50km could allow Pogacar to extend his lead. Marc Reef, Vingegaard’s sports director, remains optimistic, insisting, “We will look for every chance all the way to Paris.”

Reef's teammate Sepp Kuss dismissed concerns about Pogacar’s dominance, asserting that the latter half of the Tour may favor Vingegaard's strengths. Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock is regrouping after falling behind Pogacar, acknowledging, “I know that my shape is not 100%.”