Vuelta a España shortens Stage 15 to 110 kilometres as southern Spain heat hits 40 degrees

Protocol activated for extreme heat

Organisers of the Vuelta a España announced on Saturday evening that Sunday's 15th stage will be shortened due to an intense heatwave affecting southern Spain. Temperatures in the region surrounding Córdoba are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, prompting race officials to activate the sport's extreme weather protocol to safeguard rider health. The decision was finalised following a formal meeting that gathered representatives from the Commissaires College, cycling teams, riders, and Vuelta management. Under the modified plan, the stage distance drops from the originally scheduled 189.7 kilometres down to 110.2 kilometres, eliminating roughly 80 kilometres of racing. The peloton's ceremonial neutralized start is rescheduled for 14:50, with the official race start following at 15:00.

Stage 14 outcome and route modifications

The route alterations will take effect from kilometer 52 of the planned course to limit riders' exposure during peak afternoon temperatures. The adjustment follows a demanding 14th stage on Saturday, 5 September, contested between Jaén and the Sierra de la Pandera. German cyclist Marco Brenner secured the stage victory after finishing ahead of Colombia's Santiago Buitrago under sweltering conditions. Friday's 13th stage had previously seen Belgium's Wout van Aert claim victory for Visma-Lease a Bike, but prolonged high temperatures across Andalusia have continued to deplete the field. Race organisers stated that the revisions aim to preserve competitor health while maintaining the integrity of the sporting competition.

Heavy toll on the peloton

With more than a week remaining before the race concludes, rider withdrawals have accelerated across the competition. On Saturday, French rider Christophe Laporte abandoned during Stage 14 after struggling through earlier mountain segments. Laporte, the 2023 European champion, had served as the key lead-out rider for British sprinter Matthew Brennan, who claimed three stage victories after the race began in Monaco on 22 August. Laporte had struggled in the heat on Friday, finishing 152nd out of 155 competitors and losing more than 36 minutes to teammate Van Aert before sitting 132nd in the general classification. While his team did not confirm an official medical reason, reports indicated he suffered from digestive complications. At least four other riders, including French cyclist Jordan Labrosse, also abandoned during Stage 14.

Widespread attrition and summer heat precedents

Saturday's dropouts followed a Friday stage in which six riders left the race, including Frenchman Pavel Sivakov of UAE Team Emirates. That squad had already lost Slovenian leader Tadej Pogacar during Stage 8 and is currently down to four competitors from its starting eight-man lineup. In total, only 149 cyclists remain in the race out of the 184 who took the start in Monaco. The modification of Stage 15 reflects wider weather disruptions across European grand tours this season. In July, the Tour de France was forced to shorten a stage for the first time in its history due to a persistent summer heatwave.