Tour de France stage 20 route could be altered as rockfalls force Étape du Tour changes
Organisers will decide whether to re-route stage 20 of the Tour de France the day before the stage, with the Étape du Tour already changing
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.
Who are the contenders for the 2016 Tour de France?
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.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Fifteen thousand cyclists will take part in the Étape du Tour on Sunday, July 10, which takes riders 122km from Megève to Morzine.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tech of the week: Van Rysel releases an aero bike (quelle surprise!) plus a superlight carbon crankset from FSA, a long top tube bag from Tailfin and tyre liners from Zefal
The RCR-F aero bike will be ridden by the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team in 2025, but will it create headlines like the RCR?
By Luke Friend Published
-
Extra security meant Bern's hosting of Tour de France cost £500,000 more than expected
Tour de France cost Swiss capital of Bern more that it thought it would
By Jack Elton-Walters Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali slams critics of his Tour de France performance
Vincenzo Nibali says he's 'not a robot' and can't be expected to compete with those specifically targeting the Tour overall
By Gregor Brown Published
-
Tony Martin reveals why he had to abandon Tour de France on Champs Élysées
Tony Martin made it all the way to final circuits in Paris on stage 21 before being forced to pull out of Tour de France
By Richard Windsor Published
-
This is what it took to fuel Chris Froome and Team Sky through the Tour de France
Team Sky and Chris Froome ate a combined total of 1,000 energy gels and more than 500 bars during their 2016 Tour de France success.
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Chris Froome wins 2016 Tour de France as André Greipel takes final stage
Chris Froome takes his third Tour de France victory in Paris on Sunday as André Greipel takes the final sprint showdown on the Champs Élysées
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
The moments that won Chris Froome the 2016 Tour de France
We look back at the key points from the 2016 Tour de France that won it for Chris Froome
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
-
Rival teams praise 'super' Sky at the Tour de France
Chris Froome did not win the Tour de France on his own, but was backed by eight Sky team-mates to make an unbeatable combination that is the envy of rivals
By Gregor Brown Published
-
Chris Froome and Peter Sagan's special bikes for Tour de France final stage
A yellow Pinarello and a green Specialized for Chris Froome and Peter Sagan to mark their classification wins in the 2016 Tour de France
By Nigel Wynn Published