The Tour de France's final stage Sunday is being slashed in length by a third to divert officers to fight wildfires in the country's southwest. The Paris police department and the Tour de France organization said in a joint statement Saturday that riders will race inside Paris, rather than starting from Thoiry, west of the capital, on a circuit of 55 miles, down from the 82.5-mile route planned.

The statement said part of the security deployment for the 21st and final stage will instead "reinforce the response efforts in areas affected by the wildfires." Paris police and organizers commend the dedication of those fighting wildfires and express solidarity with affected communities. Including 70,000 people evacuated in central Spain, wildfires in southern Europe have displaced more than 250,000 people.

Tadej Pogacar moved within touching distance of a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title after finishing safely in the penultimate stage Saturday. With winds expected to shift west-to-east, potentially driving fire closer to Bordeaux, fire crews were digging trenches and using retardants. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire was about 20 miles west of the city and lost some intensity overnight.