Spectators were banned from part of the route of the third stage of this year's Tour de France cycle race on Monday as devastating wildfires ripped across large areas of southern Europe.

Hundreds of firefighters battled forest infernos in France, Spain and Portugal today, where fires have devastated more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of land.

Wildfires sweeping southern France are threatening a stage of the Tour de France, with officials set to decide later Sunday whether Monday's race can proceed. The blaze, which has…