🐄 Cows, Chaos, and a Cut-Short Climb: Stage 19 of Tour de France Re-Routed Amid Bovine Disease Outbreak

La Plagne, France — July 25, 2025

In a surreal twist that sounds more like rural folklore than high-level sport, Stage 19 of the 2025 Tour de France has been dramatically shortened after an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis—a viral disease affecting cattle—was detected near the route’s opening climbs.

The culprit? A herd of infected cows grazing around Col des Saisies, where French agricultural authorities have ordered a full cull to contain the outbreak. With the region on high alert and the farming community reeling, Tour organisers made the sensitive yet swift call: avoid the zone, reroute the race, and show respect for the affected farmers.

🛑 The Route Shake-Up: From Alpine Marathon to Mountain Dash

Originally scheduled as a 129.9km stage stacked with five categorised climbs, Friday’s ride from Albertville to La Plagne will now be slashed to just 95km. Gone are the Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine and the Col des Saisies—two testing ascents in the stage’s first half that would’ve softened up the peloton early.

Instead, the stage will begin with a 7km neutral zone in Albertville at 2:30 p.m. (one hour later than planned), before the race officially hits the D925 and re-joins the original course near Beaufort (km 52.4).

While the route may be shorter, it’s no rest day. The finish line at La Plagne, perched high in the Alps, still looms. Riders will still tackle the Hors Catégorie Col du Pré, the Cormet de Roselend, and the grueling final climb to La Plagne—all capable of blowing the general classification wide open.

🧬 The Science Behind the Scare

The sudden shift wasn’t for mere optics. Contagious nodular dermatitis is a fast-spreading viral infection in cattle, causing painful skin lesions and significant animal suffering. While harmless to humans, the disease can devastate herds and economies if left unchecked. The presence of an infected group near the Col des Saisies prompted an emergency response and immediate route revision.

The decision reflects the Tour’s increasingly complex relationship with nature—not just mountains and weather, but living, breathing ecosystems that sometimes push back.

A Tour Built on the Unexpected

This isn’t the first time Stage 19 has suffered an Alpine twist. Fans will remember 2019, when an avalanche and landslide forced an abrupt halt atop Col de l’Iseran, dramatically altering the GC fight and preserving Egan Bernal’s lead. That year, Stage 20 was also truncated to just 59km.

In 2025, the narrative is no less wild—only this time, the mountain mayhem comes not from snow and stone, but from hoof and hide.

🚴 What This Means for the Riders

With two climbs axed, fresh legs will meet the base of Col du Pré, potentially injecting chaos into GC strategies. Expect fireworks as climbers and opportunists look to capitalize on the shorter distance and sudden rerouting. The compressed format may favor aggressive early moves, while GC leaders must stay sharp—one misstep could still spell disaster on the La Plagne slopes.

As the race barrels toward its Parisian crescendo, Stage 19 may now carry even more intensity, packed into less real estate.

🔥 TL;DR:

• Stage 19 (Albertville–La Plagne) shortened to 95km (from 129.9km) due to an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis in cattle near Col des Saisies
• First two climbs (Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine & Col des Saisies) removed
• Start delayed by one hour, now 2:30 p.m. local time
• HC Col du Pré, Cormet de Roselend, and La Plagne ascent remain
• Stage still has teeth—expect high drama despite the shorter format