Tour de France route chagned following landslides
Thursday 25 June 2015 15:52, UK
The Col du Galibier climb has been removed from the penultimate stage of the Tour de France due to landslides.
The Tour, which begins on July 4 in Utrecht, Holland, was due to go over the ascent on the 20th stage.
But the route of the crucial mountain stage from Modane to Alpe d'Huez has been diverted over the Col de la Croix-de-Fer, rather than the Col du Galibier.
The new route will be the same distance – 110.5km – with the riders re-joining the original itinerary after the detour.
Tour organisers Amaury Sports Organisation said on letour.fr: "The route of the Modane-Alpe d'Huez stage has been changed: the peloton will climb the col de la Croix-de-Fer pass before tackling the final run, for a stage that from a sporting point of view remains generally unchanged.
"Kept on alert since the closure of the Chambon tunnel because of a landslide in April, Tour de France organisers have been informed by the Isere (region) authorities of the inability to restore circulation before the passage of the race scheduled on July 25.
"Despite the determination of all parties involved to conserve the original route, but more importantly to allow the population of the communities concerned to return to their normal traffic patterns, it was decided that the route of stage 20 be changed."
As a result of this course change, the Henri Desgrange prize, which rewards the rider who leads at the highest point of the Tour, will be awarded at the Col d'Allos (2,250 m), just prior to the finish of stage 17 at Pra -Loup.
Team Sky's Chris Froome, the 2013 winner, is expected to vie for overall victory with 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana.
