Tadej Pogačar Calls for Major Tour de France Calendar Change Due to Extreme Heat

Tadej Pogačar has called for a fundamental restructuring of the professional cycling calendar to mitigate the health risks posed by extreme heat during the Tour de France.

Pogačar’s Proposal for Calendar Reform

The Slovenian rider, currently competing for the yellow jersey, addressed the issue after organizers shortened the ninth stage of the Tour by 30 kilometers due to temperatures hovering near 40°C (104°F) in the Massif Central. Pogačar suggested that the sport’s governing bodies should prioritize athlete safety by altering the timing of the season.

“If I had the power, I would change the whole calendar and not race in hot places in July and August,” Pogačar said. “I would set up a completely different calendar, but that is not in my power.”

His comments arrive as riders and teams face sustained heat waves since the race’s opening stages.

Evaluating Early Start Times

However, Pogačar expressed skepticism regarding moderate adjustments, such as moving starts to 10:00 a.m.

“Yesterday there was a suggestion to start at 10:00 a.m., but that doesn’t change anything because you still finish in the heat,” Pogačar noted. “You have to start at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., or even earlier. That is a bit shitty, but I think the body can get used to waking up at 5:00 a.m. and riding a stage at 8:00 a.m.”

Operational Challenges for Teams

While Pogačar’s comments highlight the physical toll on the peloton, he acknowledged that teams have largely adapted to the current environmental demands.