The Tour is back, but not the public. Thirty-five years after its last ascent, the puy de Dôme is again climbed by the riders of the Tour de France 2023 as part of the 9th stage from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat (Haute-Vienne) this Sunday. But for the winner of the stage and his pursuers, it will not be necessary to count on the support of the spectators during the last four kilometers: the road will be closed to the public.
A decision linked to the exceptional character of the Puy de Dôme, a dormant but eminently protected volcano. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018, this site has been prohibited for cyclists since 2012, who can only climb it during competitions organized with the help of the departmental council.
Measures adapted for the occasion
Access to the last four kilometers is only allowed to a few people. “We don’t want to trample it”, insists in West France Thierry Gouvenou, technical director of the Tour de France. So this Sunday, only the runners and a few members of the organization will be able to reach the summit. All day, the access road to the Puy de Dôme is also closed to traffic, indicates the prefecture of the department.
The public will be able to walk up part of the roadside, up to the limit of the last four kilometers to encourage the runners. However, “in order to ensure the protection of natural environments, in particular endangered rare animal and plant species, it is important that the public respect the demarcated areas and the instructions for walking on the paths specially marked for the occasion” , also underlines the prefecture.
If Christian Prudhomme, the boss of the Tour de France, absolutely wanted to organize a new ascent of this mythical summit, it was not done without some concessions on the part of the organization. Beyond respecting the public ban on the last four kilometers of the stage, the number of vehicles has been reduced “drastically”, assures Thierry Gouvenou.
“We won’t have a car between the first rider and the back of the first group, for example. I replaced the cars (of the organization) with four motorbikes. And I have positioned two aid stations, 2 km and 800 m from the finish line, where the teams can have a bike and wheels, ”he explains to Ouest-France. The sports directors’ cars will also be stopped in the last kilometers, while a major explanation could take place between the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, yellow jersey, and his Slovenian rival Tadej Pogacar.
