Route update for final stage in the Alps: shortened stage, Col des Saisies canceled due to bizarre reason

The Tour organizers announced the route change via social media. The reason? A skin disease in cows. “The discovery of an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle in a herd located specifically in the Col des Saisies has necessitated the culling of the animals. In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided, in agreement with the relevant authorities, to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville–La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the col des Saisies.”

What exactly does this mean for the route? First of all, there will be three climbs in the stage instead of five: the Côte d'Héry-sur-Ugine, which was before the Saisies, has also been removed. The Col du Pré and the Cormet de Roselend remain in the stage, but the riders will now take a new route to these mountain passes. Instead of heading north, the peloton will continue on and take the D925, where the original route will be resumed from Beaufort.

This town is therefore much earlier in the route than planned initially: normally, the peloton would have had more than 52 kilometers in their legs at this point, but now it will only be 17.5. The result: the final stage in the Alps has been shortened from 129 kilometers to just 95 kilometers. This still means that the riders will have to tackle three cols and 3,400 meters of climbing, but that is 1,200 meters less than before. The final climb to La Plagne, where Michael Boogerd won in 2002, is still part of the route.