Tour de France Stage 4, Carcassonne to Foix, riders face extreme heat

sportsJul 7, 202649224

Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France runs 181.9 km from Carcassonne to Foix and is the race’s first entirely French stage in this 113th edition. The route includes four categorised climbs, with the Col de Montségur topping out about 35 km from the finish and expected to be a likely launchpad for attacks. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, forcing riders to use ice socks, consume double-digit numbers of water bottles, and rely on extra cooling logistics. Race leader and stage three winner Tadej Pogačar said racing in such heat is “dangerous” and described team efforts to ferry bottles and ice back to riders. The UCI has authorised feed bags on categorised climbs so riders can carry additional bottles in their musettes. Breakaway specialists and punchy climbers are favoured for this medium-mountain day, with Fred Wright, Julian Alaphilippe, Ben Healy, Michael Matthews, Alex Aranburu, and Mathieu van der Poel named as possible protagonists.

Brian Moore

@brianmoore666.bsky.social

Stage 4 of the Tour de France from the beautiful Carcassonne; one the most scenic cities you can ever visit.

792h ago

Mark Smith3

Had to take a picture of it off the telly. Looks absolutely stunning there today but so so hot.

philcart.bsky.social2

I was there a few weeks ago. Stunning place.

Patricio Wymerio1

Brilliant. I am staying there when Wakefield play the Catalans.

Peter Lythgoe1

And accessible from the Midlands by narrowboat!

Joey Scott

@joeyneverjoe.bsky.social

Yesterday, Mexico had a win at different world sporting event. 22-year-old Issac del Torro became the second Mexican to win a stage at the Tour de France. Not the World Cup, but it’s something.

349h ago

Joey Scott8

Escape Collective wrote about it yesterday:

Gravel Influencer

@gravelinfluencer.bsky.social

Now I'm done talking about Graham Platner because it's Tour de France time

253h ago

Greenpeace International 🌍

@greenpeace.org

Tour de France riders are racing while wildfires burn nearby and spectators are banned from the route. Is this the future we want, for sports, for fans, for all of us? #tourdefrance #heatwave

Le Monde article screenshot. Article by Jeremy Whittle in Les Angles
Mon 6 Jul 2026 19.34 CEST. Pogacar rises above wildfire restrictions to take yellow jersey in deserted Les Angles. Fans were banned from stage three finish amid fire risk. Tour organisers insist stage four goes ahead in 40C heat. Picture: Tadej Pogacar celebrates at the finish line after pipping Jonas Vingegaard in the yellow jersey, but only a few local fans were at the finish line. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

161h ago

Le Monde

@lemonde.fr

Sur le Tour de France 2026, les fortes chaleurs pourraient imposer un scénario inédit

26h ago

Cyclingnews

@cyclingnews.com

'This suffering is nothing compared to what I saw' – With late father as inspiration, Arvid De Kleijn just beats time cut at Tour de France www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/...

93h ago

Domestique

@domestiquecycling.com

🇸🇮 Pogacar’s fast start forces Visma to play the long game at 🇫🇷 Tour de France ANALYSIS 📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/poga... 📸 Cor Vos

84h ago

Leon Elsjan of Wipper

@leoneow.eurosky.social

Tour de France race centre today suddenly doesn't show the temperature anymore. (was yesterday 36º+) racecenter.letour.fr/en/4

51h ago

Who has all the money?

@amazecraze.bsky.social

Watching the Tour de France and the commentators were saying the landscape looks like it usually does in late August not the first week of July This is as wildfires prevented spectators from being able to watch.

23h ago

Cambridge Diary

@cambridgediary.bsky.social

7th July 2014 Over 400,000 people watched the start of Stage 3 of the Tour de France. Picture from my book 'Cambridge - Town & Gown'. Available at cambridgebooks.co.uk/cambridge-to... and all bookshops.

66h ago

Andrea Is Sick of Long Covid

@andreastudiescovid.bsky.social

He who has not long COVID shall win the Tour de France.

411h ago

Andy McGrath

@andy-mcgrath.bsky.social

I'm a little bummed to not be on the ground in Carcassonne – cassoulet! chocolatine! castle-y views! – but next best thing is doing the @theguardian.com live Tour de France text coverage. Join me or write in to andy.mcgrath@guardian.co.uk and get a shout-out:

52h ago

Adam Becket1

I've just been remembering how Tom Pidcock jumped into a fountain in Carcassonne after stage 15 of the 2022 Tour de France. I don't think he got ill, but I'm sure there are better, more hygienic ways to cool down in 37 degrees

Olddogandgrump

@olddogandgrump.bsky.social

Waffle, waffle, waffle. Off to watch the Tour de France, I'll catch the highlights later.

3Just now

Edinburgh Festival of Cycling

@edfoc.bsky.social

Cooling down a 'logistical nightmare' at Tour de France, champ Tadej Pogacar says www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

14h ago

DnlBenson

@dnlbenson.bsky.social

Cycling Transfers: Seixas and Decathlon postpone contract talks until after the Tour de France 🇫🇷 'You cannot buy somebody, even for 13 million Euros' says Serieys as he confirms Gall's departure dnlbenson.substack.com/p/cycling-tr...

37h ago

3 sources

theguardian.comTour de France 2026: stage four updates as riders face extreme heat – live lemonde.frEN DIRECT, Tour de France : suivez la quatrième étape, entre Carcassonne et Foix racecenter.letour.frStage 4 of the Tour de France 2026 live

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Tour de France Stage 4, Carcassonne to Foix, riders face extreme heat

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