Marmande: Opening round of the Long-Course World Championships cancelled due to heatwave

This was almost to be expected. The opening round of the 2026 Long-Course World Championships in Marmande was cancelled one day before the scheduled date. The reason? The heatwave, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, had prompted the French authorities to issue a red alert, which affects, amongst other things, sporting events such as the Grand Prix in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The health of all those involved is the primary consideration behind this measure. FIM Europe has announced 26 September as the new date.

The race on 13 June – the eve of France’s national holiday – has always been celebrated as a fantastic event in Marmande. However, the current weather conditions, with temperatures around 40 degrees, led the authorities to issue a red alert, under which sporting activities such as the Long-Track Grand Prix are prohibited. Lukas Fienhage of AC Vechta, who lives near Marmande, told SPEEDWEEK.com regarding the cancellation: “It is what it is. You can’t change government decisions.”

From a German perspective, the riders affected are Lukas Fienhage, Erik Riss, Daniel Spiller and Timo Wachs. They and all the others in the 21-strong field of competitors will in any case receive 50 per cent of the suspended prize money on a pro rata basis. For some, this may be enough; for others – particularly teams who have travelled from further afield – it certainly won’t be.

New: Dates for the 2026 Long-Track World Championships:

• 23 August 2026 Scheessel (Germany)

• 5 September 2026 Morizès (F)

• 26 September 2026 Marmande (F)

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