2026 Tour de France final stage cut to 89 km in Paris

The final stage of the 2026 Tour de France has been significantly shortened and rerouted due to the redeployment of security forces to combat widespread wildfires in France. Race organizers announced on Saturday, July 25, that the planned 133-kilometer stage from Thoiry to Paris has been reduced to 89 kilometers and will now take place entirely within the French capital on Sunday, July 26.

The decision was made by the French Interior Ministry, which is redirecting internal security personnel originally assigned to the race to reinforce emergency response efforts in fire-affected regions, particularly in the Gironde area. Officials stated the move was made in a spirit of national solidarity with the impacted communities, where large-scale evacuations are underway.

As a result, the ceremonial elements of the stage will still occur in Thoiry, including the caravan parade and team presentation in the afternoon. However, the riders will then transfer by bus to Paris rather than racing from the start town. The competitive portion of the stage will now begin officially on the Champs-Élysées at 5:50 p.m. local time.

The revised route preserves the stage's key sporting feature: three laps...