Sunday’s flat 15th stage to Carcassonne was by far the toughest in terms of weather conditions. Temperatures reached up to forty degrees Celsius. And even if cyclists start certain races in the year with even warmer weather and their teams have a good overview of the climatic conditions, it is not easy to prepare and then face the heat on the bike.

“I have never experienced such heat on the Tour,” admitted local rider Romain Bardet after Sunday’s stage. “It wasn’t good. It was kind of uncomfortable for everyone and it was mostly about getting us enough drinks and ice,” Bardet said.

Water and ice are essential. Runners often drink water, they have to watch out for dehydration, cooling vests are in action and teams try to relieve them with ice baths after the finish line. British star Thomas Pidcock helped himself by cooling off in a nearby fountain after Sunday’s finish.

“Everyone is hurting in this heat, that’s how it is,” said American Quinn Simmons. “It was a bit too much,” said Norwegian veteran Alexander Kristoff.

“You just have to try to keep your body cool enough. I don’t think anybody would like to cycle for five hours at forty degrees. And I don’t think that’s healthy for us either. But it’s the same something for everyone,” said Slovinec Tadej Pogačar, who is attacking for a winning hat-trick after the triumphs of the past two years.

The good news for Tour participants is that the worst seems to be behind them. The temperature peaks, according to the weather forecast, occurred between Sunday and Tuesday.

Apparently, even a record, which was very close to it, will remain unbeaten for the time being. With temperatures above 38 degrees, the roads heat up to 60 degrees, with an all-time high of 63 degrees when Sylvain Chavanel won the seventh stage in 2010.

“Think about it. If the road surface is heated to 55 or 60 degrees and the bike pedal is only 20 centimeters above it, then the rider is exposed to really extreme temperatures,” said André Bancala, who is in charge of logistics and safety on the Tour.

This is also why the organizers cooperate with the fire brigade. “We have ten thousand liters of water ready to cool the road. In some places the asphalt will start to flow. Not everywhere, but it will be much softer. Can you imagine how this could end? And just cool the road with water is the solution,” said Bancala.

Although the organizers only resort to this technique in the most necessary cases, timing is crucial. “You have to strike at the right time. If you water the road too soon, the water evaporates and the road heats up quickly. If you do it too late, the peloton will arrive on a wet surface. one hour before the competitors pass,” said Bancala.