Tour de France stage shortened due to heatwave as Tim Merlier secures second victory

The decision was made after Meteo France issued a red alert for the central Correze region. Organizers cut 30km from the 185.5km ninth stage from Malemort to Ussel, removing a hilly section. This change aims to ensure the race can proceed under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert.

Belgian sprint king Tim Merlier secured his second victory in the eighth stage, a 180km run from Perigueux to Bergerac. Merlier praised the organizers' decision to shorten the stage, noting the challenging conditions with temperatures consistently above 35 degrees Celsius. Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar, the current race leader, acknowledged the expected high temperatures and emphasized the team's readiness to cope.

Merlier's win, his fifth stage victory in his third Tour appearance, brings him closer to Mads Pedersen in the sprinters' green jersey competition. The eighth stage, which was expected to end in a bunch sprint, saw Liam Slock caught 1.3km from the finish after a long breakaway.