Hizzoner feels the heat and will stay in city

The heat wave is forcing Mayor de Blasio to take a break from his big race, and he’s suggesting participants in this weekend’s triathlon consider doing the same.

The city is bracing for its hottest day in seven years Saturday with weekend temperatures set to soar above 100. With a summer blackout already under the city’s belt, de Blasio, a presidential hopeful, said he is canceling a weekend trip to Iowa just in case.

De Blasio said he is also worried about athletes swimming, cycling and running through a city that will feel like the inside of an oven. “I respect the rights and freedoms of all Americans,” he said Wednesday at a Brooklyn news conference.

“I don’t quite understand why the triathlon organizers want to continue with their triathlon at this point. We had a situation like this last year, not this level of heat obviously.”

“I would think this is an exceptional situation,” de Blasio added. “I know we’re in dialogue with them”

Whether the race is on or not, de Blasio said, the city’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated to support the triathlon and other events.

A triathlon representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

De Blasio and his aides stressed the danger New Yorkers face in excessive heat, and urged residents to seek air-conditioned shelter and stay out of the sun. The city will operate 500 cooling centers, and will provide spray caps for fire hydrants at firehouses.

The mayor was roundly criticized for being out of the city and on the campaign trail when a Con Ed equipment problem caused a power outage on much of Manhattan’s West Side for several hours Saturday.

That outage had nothing to do with excessive heat or heavy demand, officials said. De Blasio noted many New Yorkers would probably be out of town this weekend, and power usage will likely decrease.