Culling Infected Cows Results in Modified Schedule for 19th Stage of Tour de France

The 19th stage of the Tour de France faced significant alterations on Friday due to a recent outbreak of contagious disease affecting local cattle. As a result, the route from Albertville to La Plagne was shortened from its original length of 80.5 miles to just 57.7 miles.

This change was confirmed on the official stage map released by the Tour. Notably, two of the five climbs in the original plan were eliminated; the most prominent was the 13.7-kilometer Col des Saisies.

According to race organizers at ASO, the outbreak of nodular dermatitis, which impacts cattle, led to the culling of infected animals. ASO issued a statement explaining that the decision to modify the route was made in coordination with local authorities to ensure the safety of both the livestock and the race participants, stating, “Given the consternation of the breeders concerned, we decided to change the route and avoid crossing the Col des Saisies.”

To accommodate these changes, the start time for the stage was also delayed by one hour, now set for 2:30 p.m. local time, with a predicted completion around 5:30 p.m. Heading into this crucial stage, three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia held the overall lead, with two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark trailing by 4 minutes and 26 seconds in second place.

For Vingegaard and his Visma–Lease a Bike team, this stage represented their last realistic opportunity to gain ground on Pogačar as the race draws to a close on Sunday. Despite their efforts, they had struggled to close the gap during the mountain stages of this year’s event.