Historic First: Stage Paused Mid-Race in Tour's Unprecedented Halting
In the world of professional cycling, the Tour de France stands out as one of the most prestigious and challenging races. Over the years, the event has been marked by a series of unexpected incidents, particularly those related to weather conditions and neutralizations.
One of the most memorable instances occurred in 2013, when a full stage of the Giro d'Italia was suspended due to snow on the Tonale, one of the climbs that had been taken as an alternative in the new route. This was not an isolated incident, as history has shown that harsh weather conditions have led to stage shortenings and cancellations that influence general classification outcomes.
For example, in the 1929 Tour de France, snow on the Galibier did not deter the cyclists, but in 1996, part of a stage was suspended due to an unprecedented event of snow. Fast forward to 2019, the stage to Val Thorens was cut 70 km short due to poor weather conditions, impacting the dynamics of the race that day and solidifying Egan Bernal’s position in the Yellow Jersey.
Neutralizations occur when the race pace is intentionally slowed or paused, often out of safety concerns. In 2015, the Tour de France was temporarily neutralized due to a lack of ambulances. The following year, a protest by farmers forced the police to use tear gas, affecting some cyclists. In 2018, at kilometer 29 of the sixteenth stage, farmers threw bales of hay onto the road, causing the race to be neutralized for fifteen minutes.
Weather, such as strong crosswinds or heat, shapes the tactical aspects of stages. The 2025 Tour's opening stages were marked by crosswinds, making race conditions tough from the start. Conversely, Stage 11 had sunny weather but with moderate wind, influencing breakaway success and peloton cooperation.
In some cases, infrastructure and conditions have affected stage route selection. The longtime absence of the Superbagnères climb is a testament to this, as it was only returned in 2025 after infrastructural improvements.
While not a Tour de France event, other races like the Tour of Valle D'Aosta have canceled stages due to circumstances, showing how multi-day cycling races will neutralize or cancel for participant safety and logistical reasons.
In summary, harsh weather conditions have led to stage shortenings and cancellations that influence general classification outcomes, while crashes and safety concerns have prompted in-race neutralizations or slowed paces among top riders. Weather and stage conditions also dictate tactical race elements like crosswinds or climb difficulty, which shape how the race unfolds on the road. This blend of environmental and safety-related race management is a consistent feature of Tour de France stage history.
In the realm of sports, the world of professional cycling often encounters situations where weather conditions significantly impact race dynamics, such as stage cancellations or shortenings, as evidenced by the 2013 Giro d'Italia and the 1996 Tour de France.
During the Tour de France, instances of neutralizations occur due to various reasons, including safety concerns, as demonstrated by the temporary neutralization in 2015 due to a lack of ambulances and the 15-minute neutralization in 2018 due to bales of hay being thrown onto the road by farmers.
