Severe heat cuts down La Route d'Occitanie stage to just 32 kilometers

Away from all the chaos of the Tour de Suisse, several races will be taking place today. Riders will be competing at the Tour of Slovenia, Baloise Belgium Tour and La Route d'Occitanie. However, in the latter the riders will only be racing through 32 kilometers due to concerns over the extreme heat.

Race organizers have confirmed last night that stage two had been cut due to the concerns. The region of the Pyrenees has been suffering from a heat wave that has struck through much of Europe, and with temperatures reaching as high as 37º celsius this afternoon in southern France, it would put the peloton under severe risk of health problems.

The organizers have found a way to still carry the race onwards, with a short 32-kilometer route that will have the finale in Roquefort-en-Aveyron. It will be a short day of racing, however an explosive one as it features a sequence of hills towards the finale. Arnaud Démare won the opening stage of the race and will be setting off to try and defend his lead, a difficult task.