The third stage of the Tour de France cycling race will go ahead on Monday in an "adapted" format with no public in France because of forest fires ravaging a region in the south of the country, a top local official said Sunday.
"On French territory, the publicity caravan will not circulate," said Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, the prefect -- the top Paris-appointed official -- of the Eastern Pyrénées département.
"The setup will be limited to the passage of the riders only and the vehicles essential to organising the event."
The prefect added: "The public is asked not to go near the route or to the finish area.
"In other words, and I regret having to say this, it will be, in France at least, a stage of the Tour de France without spectators."
