“We have to go to gas stations for ice” - Extreme heat at the Tour de France forces teams to take drastic measures
CyclingThursday, 09 July 2026 at 12:15
Scorching temperatures have become one of the main protagonists of the Tour de France. Beyond the difficulty of the route, teams are fighting a constant battle to keep riders hydrated and stop the heat from taking a toll in the race. For Movistar Team, the logistics required to counter the high temperatures are as demanding as the competition itself.
José Joaquín Rojas, the Spanish squad’s sports director, outlined the complexity of managing each stage when the mercury soars. The Murcian admitted that water and ice consumption is so high that, at times, the team car itself runs out of supplies during the stage.
“Many times in the car we run out of bottles, out of ice, you have to call for more, stop at a petrol station. It’s very hard to manage for a team in the heat, and especially for the riders,” Rojas said, underlining the scale of the daily challenge.
The numbers speak for themselves. As he told Eurosport, Movistar Team burns through around 250 water bottles and close to 100 kilograms of ice in a single day of racing, a figure that shows how far the heat shapes the team’s strategy and organisation.
Rojas also detailed how scientific preparation has become key to minimising the effects of extreme temperatures.
The need for ice at Tour de France
“In the end, with all the specialists we have, with the nutritionists and the doctors, they have a temperature sensor on the body and the aim is always to stay as low as possible, although they’re almost always at 38 or 39 degrees,” he explained.
To keep riders within safe parameters, ice is indispensable. “A lot of ice to bring the temperature down, lots of water over the top. They’re always kind of soaked, as if they were in a pool, trying to survive the heat,” the former pro added.
None of this logistics would be possible without significant manpower. Rojas put the number of staff needed to hand up bidons during a stage at around 25, though he admits it’s never enough.
García Pierna in a Tour de France stage
Movistar Team’s work at the Tour
“Approximately 25 people to hand out bidons, and I always need more people. Everyone gives bidons, even the manager, even the boss; if someone almost comes as a visitor, we get them a licence so they can help.
"Because you need a licence to hand up bidons. Everyone is necessary because, in the end, it’s vital that the boys are at full gas,” he concluded.
Rojas’s words show that, in the modern Tour de France, gaining time doesn’t only depend on the legs. Behind every stage lies a huge logistical and scientific effort so riders can perform at their limit even when the heat pushes the body to the edge.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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