Tadej Pogacar has called for a radical overhaul of the professional racing calendar, citing extreme temperatures during the Tour de France. His comments came after Mathieu van der Poel won the shortened ninth stage from Malemort to Ussel, with Tom Pidcock finishing third.

Pogacar, a four-time Tour winner, expressed his frustration:

If I had the power I would change all the calendar and not race in July and August in hot places.

He suggested that starting stages earlier could help, stating, "Maybe the next step is to start the stages earlier. You need to start at eight or nine, or even before."

The stage included three steep climbs and nearly 2,700 metres of altitude gain, and despite being shortened due to the heatwave, the challenging conditions took their toll on the riders. Pidcock, despite battling a saddle sore, noted his performance:

I was going super well today... my level is higher.

As temperatures soared, many riders resorted to extreme cooling methods post-race, including ice baths and portable cryotherapy units. The Professional Cyclists Association emphasized the need for better measures to protect rider wellbeing and called for discussions on changing start times.

While the stage to Ussel was 40 minutes shorter, rider Tiesj Benoot remarked it made little difference after enduring the heat for days. Tour director Christian Prudhomme explained logistical issues prevented earlier starts, making Pogacar's suggestions difficult to implement.

With more hot days ahead, the upcoming rest day offers little relief for those already feeling the strain.