Isaac del Toro won the second stage of the Tour de France 2026 on Sunday, celebrating his debut stage victory alongside teammate Tadej Pogacar. The event took place despite the threat of wildfires in the eastern Pyrenees, leading to a spectator-free stage, as confirmed by Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, the prefect of the Eastern Pyrenees.
Wildfire Threat Forces Changes to Tour de France
The Tour de France's third stage to Les Angles will proceed without fans due to ongoing wildfires. Regnault de la Mothe stated, “The public is asked not to go near the route or to the finish area.” The decision reflects heightened safety measures amid the crisis, with nearly 600 firefighters mobilized to combat the flames.
“We agreed, given the exceptional and frightening conditions of the fire, to limit the road to only the riders and essential organisation vehicles,” said Christian Prudhomme, the Tour director. The absence of the publicity caravan further underscores the impact of the wildfires on the event.
Del Toro's Impressive Stage Win
In a thrilling finish, del Toro edged out Pogacar for the stage win, marking a significant achievement for the young cyclist. Pogacar, who had suffered a defeat on Saturday, played a crucial role in setting up his teammate for victory. “Tadej’s a great guy and it’s very generous of him to give a stage win to a teammate,” noted overall race leader Jonas Vingegaard.
