Tadej Pogačar put Tour de France heat at the centre of the race after winning stage 3 on Monday.
The UAE Emirates-XRG leader reclaimed the yellow jersey, yet his post-stage concern focused on rising temperatures. He warned that riders now rely on modern cooling to keep racing safely.
Temperatures reached the mid-90s Fahrenheit as the Tour returned to France. Road temperatures on Monday climbed close to 100F, with more heat forecast across central France in the coming days.
Pogačar said racing for four to six hours in those conditions can become unsafe without constant cooling. He described the risk as “dangerous” if riders fail to lower body temperature.
Tour de France heat shapes UAE’s race plan
UAE Emirates-XRG has made heat management a major part of its Tour strategy. Pogačar said the team now treats hot days as a full logistical operation.
Riders need repeated deliveries of water and ice from the team car. Pogačar said several teammates must drop back to collect bottles and cooling supplies during stages.
He called the process a logistical nightmare on days like Monday. The workload adds another layer to a race already shaped by speed, positioning, and recovery.
Pogačar said teams have changed sharply in recent years. He compared current cooling methods with those used five years ago, saying the difference is significant.
He welcomed the modern approach because of the danger posed by heat. In his view, keeping body temperature under control now forms part of basic race readiness.
The Tour could also see extreme heat protocols if forecasts worsen. Those measures can include alterations to stages, according to the conditions facing the peloton.
Heat training started months before the Tour
Pogačar said his preparation for hot racing began well before the Grand Départ. He spent more time on specific heat work this year than in previous seasons.
His team built longer training rides around race-like conditions. Those sessions lasted four to five hours and included support for hydration and cooling.
At a recent camp in southern Spain, Pogačar also trained in summer-like heat without a support car. He said those rides helped him understand how quickly overheating can affect performance.
He described three-hour unsupported rides in the heat as especially difficult. Without water and cooling support, he said a rider can quickly feel overwhelmed.
That preparation reflects a wider shift in elite stage racing. Heat training has become another detail in the battle for the general classification.
Pogačar says Tour contenders must arrive ready
Pogačar also said Tour preparation has changed beyond heat management. He rejected the idea that contenders can ride into top condition during the race.
He said that may have happened 20 years ago, but not in the current peloton. Today, general classification riders must arrive near their best from the opening stage.
Pogačar said the Tour now offers little time to build form gradually. The intensity starts immediately, and contenders must race hard every day.
The opening stages began in Barcelona, where top favorites already needed high-level condition. Pogačar said riders must bring their best shape to the race from the start.
From there, the challenge becomes preservation rather than improvement. Recovery, nutrition, and routine become essential as riders try to hold form through three weeks.
Pogačar said good days and bad days remain inevitable. Still, he doubted general classification riders can meaningfully improve their condition during the Tour.
For him, the formula is clear. Arrive prepared, manage recovery, eat consistently, and keep body temperature under control when the Tour de France heat rises.