Tadej Pogacar is set to celebrate what seems to be his inevitable victory on the streets of Paris during the Tour de France, albeit with a shortened final stage of just 89km due to wildfires affecting parts of France. The concluding stage will commence on the Champs-Élysées, involving two laps before proceeding to the traditional circuits of Butte de Montmartre.

In a joint statement, the Tour organizer, ASO, announced that security forces initially assigned for the final stage will be redirected to assist in wildfire response efforts, which have devastated over 36,000 hectares of forest near Bordeaux.

Pogacar, who recently clinched a remarkable victory on Alpe d’Huez, is on track to secure a record-equalling fifth title. He enters the final day with a commanding lead of 6 minutes and 26 seconds over Remco Evenepoel, despite conceding 39 seconds during Saturday’s stage, won by Richard Carapaz.

The race has faced significant safety concerns, highlighted by chaotic scenes during the Alpe climb. These incidents included a crash involving Einer Rubio, who was hospitalized after colliding with a team car due to an unruly spectator. Race director Thierry Gouvenou pointed to modern car technology as a factor in the accident.

Carapaz, who has been a standout performer, continued to assert himself in the King of the Mountains classification, winning two stages in three days. Meanwhile, contention arose between him and Lenny Martinez after accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct during the previous stage.

As the Tour draws to a close, Pogacar’s dominance remains evident, but the discussions surrounding rider safety and spectator behavior continue to overshadow the competition.