Tadej Pogacar is poised to secure a historic fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, with the final stage shortened to just 89km after wildfires in southwestern France forced the redeployment of security forces. The stage will now begin on the Champs-Élysées, with two laps of the avenue followed by circuits of the Butte Montmartre, as organisers ASO cited a decision by the interior ministry to reinforce firefighting efforts. Pogacar holds a commanding lead of six minutes and 26 seconds over Remco Evenepoel.
Saturday’s 20th stage was won by Richard Carapaz, who attacked early on the Col de la Croix de Fer to consolidate his lead in the King of the Mountains classification. The Ecuadorian, also winner of stage 12, crossed the finish line ahead of the peloton, while Pogacar cruised home to protect his teammate Isaac del Torro, who sits third overall.
However, the race has been overshadowed by concerns over fan behaviour, particularly during Friday’s chaotic climb of Alpe d’Huez. Incidents included motorbikes blocked by crowds, a spectator falling in front of a UAE team car that caused Movistar’s Einer Rubio to crash through its rear windscreen, and fans wrestling over gifts from the caravan. Rubio was airlifted to hospital with facial injuries requiring 20 stitches.
Race director Thierry Gouvenou blamed modern braking sensors for the car accident, while French champion Romain Grégoire described spectators as “so drunk that it was more like being slapped on the arse than getting pushes”. Evenepoel’s sports director, Klaas Lodewyck, condemned fans who “punch in side mirrors and bang on windows”. The Alpe d’Huez stage also saw a row between Carapaz and French climber Lenny Martinez, who refused to let Carapaz pass on a corner, prompting harsh words from the Ecuadorian.
Saturday’s stage also claimed Ilan Van Wilder, who crashed out of 12th place on the descent of the Croix de Fer, as fatigue took its toll on the peloton. The Tour concludes with what was expected to be a parade, but the shortened route and ongoing wildfire crisis have added a sombre note to Pogacar’s likely victory.
