Climate Change forces organisers to shorten stage 4 of the Tour Down Under
It's only day 5 of the men's UCI World Tour season and already climate breakdown has hit!
This morning was just the fifth day of the UCI men’s World Tour for 2026, but already we’ve had the first climate change effected day of racing.
With temperatures expected to hit 40C, Stuart O’Grady, the race director at the Tour Down Under, made the wise decision to adapt the route. He removed the planned ascents of Old Willunga Hill to reduce the heat stress on the riders.
This turned what was meant to be the main spectacle of the whole race, the Queen stage, into a very tame day. If you want to watch the replay, I’d recommend fast forwarding until 2km to go.
THIS IS WHAT CLIMATE BREAKDOWN IS DOING TO THE SPORT WE LOVE.
And irony, upon irony, the Tour Down Under is sponsored by a fossil fuel company. Pro cycling is being eaten by its sponsors.
As for La Flamme Verte #5, it wasn’t at 27km to go after all. Because of the race shortening, it was at 400m to go instead. If you watch the replay you can’t miss that mighty Desert Ash from the helicopter shots.
For the riders sake, let’s hope the stage 5 temperatures are a bit cooler. La Flamme Verte #6 will be published later today.
Thank you for the post. Is there any area in our lives as humans inhabiting this beautiful planet that is not affected by Climate Change? (Rhetorical question of course).