Race organisers have shortened the finale of the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday, as security forces are redeployed to combat wildfires near Bordeaux.

The traditional finish at the Champs-Elysees, where the winner of the yellow jersey is crowned, will now see a reduced route from 133km to 89km. This decision comes as security personnel initially assigned to protect the race have been sent to support overwhelmed fire services in the Gironde region.

The Paris police and the event's organisers stated:

"As numerous wildfires are currently affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, emergency services are fully mobilised to combat the blazes, while internal security forces are working to secure the affected areas and protect the population."

In response to the crisis, the Interior Ministry has redeployed a portion of the internal security forces to bolster firefighting efforts, significantly impacting the planned celebrations in Paris.

The wildfires, exacerbated by high winds, have led to widespread evacuations, affecting nearly 200,000 people in France and 73,000 in Spain. French interior minister Laurent Nunez remarked on the challenging situation:

"We expect a fight that will be long and very difficult."

Despite the alterations, the route change will not affect the race’s general classification. Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia has already secured a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey on Saturday. Sunday’s stage 21 will serve as a mere sprint finish, leaving overall standings unchanged.