The stage of Friday in the Tour de France has been shortened for a remarkable reason. Due to a virus outbreak among cows on the route, the organization is forced to scrap the first two climbs.
The riders would first climb the Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine (11.3 kilometers at 5.2 percent) and then the Col des Saisies (13.8 kilometers at 6.4 percent) in the 129.9 kilometer long mountain stage from the starting place Albertville on Friday.
The discovery of a skin disease among cows in a herd on the Col des Saisies changes this. According to the Tour organization, the affected cows have been shot. It has not been announced when the outbreak was discovered.
“Given the need of the affected farmers and to ensure the proper course of the race, it has been decided in consultation with the competent authorities to adjust the route of stage 19 and avoid the climb to the Col des Saisies,” the Tour organization writes in a statement.
This means that the ride has been shortened to 95 kilometers. The start will also be an hour later than planned, at 2:30 PM. The riders will still start in Albertville, but will continue their way via another route. The race will continue the normal route at 52 kilometers from the original planning. The finish is around 5:15 PM.
Last chance for Vingegaard
Friday’s ride is the last mountain stage in this 112th edition of the Tour. The riders finish on the top of La Plagne, the climb on which Michael Boogerd won a Tour stage in a fine way in 2002.
Along the way, the riders still have the Col du Pré (12.6 kilometers at 7.7 percent) and the Cormet de Roselend (5.9 kilometers at 6.3 percent) ahead of them. It is the last chance for Jonas Vingegaard to still threaten yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar.
Pogacar defends a lead of 4 minutes and 26 seconds over Vingegaard in the general classification. No major shifts in the general classification are expected in the stages of Saturday (hill stage to Pontarlier) and Sunday (flat stage through Paris).