Stage 19 of Tour de France altered due to contagious cattle disease nodular dermatitis – two climbs removed from route

The stage on Friday was planned to be nearly 130km, with five climbs.

Now, the stage will be 95km, with two of the early climbs – the Cote d’Hery-sur-Ugine and Col des Saisies – being removed from the route.

“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,” the ASO announced on Thursday night.

“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.”

The stage is still set to end in La Plagne. After that, there will be just two more days left of racing in this year’s French Grand Tour.

It seems ever more likely that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will be celebrating his fourth Tour de France triumph in Paris on Sunday.

“I’m happy I had good legs and kept the yellow jersey,” Pogacar said.

“It was difficult to make any difference today. I was a bit scared of this stage, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.”

A defiant Vingegaard said: “I think it looked like we were pretty equal today. He took a few seconds in the end, but the Tour is not over.”