A stage of the Tour de France has been shortened to avoid a herd of diseased cows, organisers said.
Stage 19 of the 21-stage competition through the mountains from Albertville to La Plagne was cut from nearly 130km to 95km (81 miles to 59 miles), eliminating two of the five planned climbs.
Organisers shortened the stage due to an outbreak of “contagious nodular dermatitis” found in a herd of cows in Col des Saisies, a 13.7km (8.5-mile) climb.
“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 organisers of the Tour de France, ASO, said in a statement late Thursday.
“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 started one hour later than planned at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm UK time) and bypassed climbs in Cote d’Hery-sur-Ugine and Col des Saises and rejoining the original route near Beaufort.
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The tour is set to end in Paris on Sunday.
Currently in the lead is three-time winner and defending champion Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia, who held a lead of four minutes and 26 seconds ahead of his rival Jonas Vingegaard after the completion of Stage 18 on Thursday.
