Tour de France Shortens Stage 19 Over Infected Cattle Outbreak

The 19th stage of the 2025 Tour de France was shortened significantly due to an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis among cattle near the Col des Saisies mountain pass, forcing the culling of infected cows and a re-routing of the race. The originally planned 129.9 km route from Albertville to La Plagne was reduced to approximately 93-95 km, removing two climbs including the Col des Saisies to avoid the affected area, with the start time delayed by one hour. Race organizers and local authorities decided on this change to respect the distress of local farmers and maintain the race's calm. Three-time champion Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia maintained the overall lead going into the stage, with two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark trailing by over four minutes, making this stage Vingegaard’s last realistic opportunity to catch Pogačar before the race concludes. The rerouted course still concluded with an uphill finish in La Plagne, but the removal of early climbs limited chances for significant changes in the general classification standings. This unusual mid-race detour highlights the intersection of sporting events with local agricultural and health concerns.