Tour de France stage 20 route could be altered as rockfalls force Étape du Tour changes

The Étape du Tour will be one mountain light this weekend as the Col de la Ramaz was removed from the route because of the threat of rockfalls, which could also affect the Tour de France's passing 10 days later.

The Tour is scheduled to pass over La Ramaz on its way to the final mountain, the Col de Joux Plane, and the stage finish in Morzine.

The Étape du Tour route was identical to the Tour route, but organisers ASO changed the mass-participation sportive route on Monday to avoid the dangers posed.

Instead of turning left up La Ramaz, the sportive riders will continue straight down the D907 through Mieussy and Taninges to Samoëns, where the climb of Joux Plane starts.

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Organisers will assess the threat of rockfalls again the day before the Tour is scheduled to pass on July 22. If ASO is forced to alter the Tour route it will be the second year running that a major mountain climb has been removed from the race, following the alterations to the penultimate stage in 2015.

Last year the Col du Galibier was removed from the race because of a landslide on the road between the south side of the mountain and Alpe d'Huez, where the stage finished.

Fifteen thousand cyclists will take part in the Étape du Tour on Sunday, July 10, which takes riders 122km from Megève to Morzine.