Tadej Pogaar has said he would change the professional cycling calendar after yesterdays stage 9 of the Tour de France was shortened due to extreme heat, following an opening week thats been dominated by discussions over high temperatures.If I had the power I would change all the calendar and not race in July and August in hot places, Pogaar said. Id do a completely different calendar, but its not something I can do.Maybe the next step is to start the stages earlier. Yesterday there was a proposal to start at 10, but it doesnt change anything because then you finish in the heat.You need to start at eight or nine, or even before. Its a little bit shit, but I think the body can adapt to waking up at five oclock in the morning and doing a stage at eight. But I think Ive said enough, he said after the stage. Read more: Eight fans injured at the Tour de France by car crash in finish straightThe stage from Malemort to Ussel was won by Mathieu van der Poel from a breakaway, after it was shortened by 30km because of the heatwave and Mteo-France placed the department of Corrze on red alert.Van der Poel said he was initially struggling with the heat at the Tour de France. I had some difficulties to recover even from the easier days. Already in the last few days I felt a bit better. It was easier stages, and today I finally had the legs to go for it, he said.It was the best day of the race so far for PinarelloQ36.5's Tom Pidcock, who finished third behind Van der Poel and Tobias Johannessen.Riding to sign-on this morning was like opening the oven and youre looking in and it goes in your face, Pidcock said. But once you started the race it wasnt too bad.The heat has been a talking point throughout the 2026 Tour de France, which has seen measures implemented to protect riders and fans. The race organisers urged fans not to attend stage 3 due to wildfires and the UCI relaxed its rules around riders accepting bidons so they can stay better hydrated.The riders have taken to jumping in ice baths after stages, and Netcompany-Ineos even used large containers for their arms to stay cool ahead of the opening team time trial.Today is the Tour de Frances first rest day, with tomorrows stage 10 heading from Aurillac to Le Lioran in Cantal. The department is currently under an orange alert. More on the 2026 Tour de France UCI changes Tour de France rules in light of extreme heat The Tour de France has lost some of its magic and that could spell trouble for cyclings future Forget VO2 max a Tour de France cyclist's defining quality is their frightening capacity to suffer Who is Isaac del Toro? 4 things you need to know about the Mexican who could be a future Tour de France winner A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? Every team bike at the 2026 Tour de France