Tour de France finale shortened as security forces redeploy to fight wildfires

PARIS : Sunday’s grand finale of the Tour de France, ending in Paris, will be shortened due to the impact of security forces being redeployed to battle wildfires near Bordeaux, organisers and police said on Saturday. The Tour’s final leg – Stage 21 when cyclists enter Paris and do laps around the Champs Elysees – will be shortened to 89 kilometres instead of the 133 kms originally planned.

“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,” the Paris police and the event’s organisers said in a joint statement.

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