The Tour de France is causing unexpected changes to voting procedures in several French communes.

As the ninth stage of the race kicked off on Sunday, some municipalities in the Aube department had to adjust their voting hours to accommodate the event.

For instance, Celles-sur-Ource opened its polling stations at 7 AM instead of 8 AM, while others like Bar-sur-Aube and La Chapelle-Saint-Luc will remain open until 7 PM or even 8 PM.

Local officials are encouraging residents to vote early to enjoy the race later.

This stage introduces a new challenge for cyclists: 32 kilometers of 'white roads' divided into 14 sectors, promising a dusty and rocky ride, especially in the final 30 kilometers.