Cycling: As feared, the 20th stage of the 2015 Tour de France has to be changed. Instead of the Col du Galibier, the peloton will again ride over the Col de la Croix de Fer.
The reason for the route change is a tunnel closure due to a landslide. As a result, sections of the D 1091 between Grenoble and Briancon are impassable. The spot cannot be bypassed either, as the valley is too narrow there and there is no second road. The tunnel in question is just before the end of the Col du Lautaret descent. Due to the change in route, two difficult passes are eliminated: the Col du Télégraphe (1.566m, 1st category) and the Col du Galibier (2.645m, highest category). In total, 31 points less are awarded in the mountain classification.
After the scheduled start in Modane, the new route leads via Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne to the Col de la Croix de Fer (2.067m, highest category). This is already on the program in the opposite direction the day before. After the descent, the riders arrive at the foot of Alpe d'Huez from the opposite direction than originally planned. The final ascent over the legendary 21 serpentines remains unchanged, as does the length of the stage at 110 kilometers. Due to the elimination of the Galibier, the highest point of this year's Tour de France is now reached in the 17th stage: the Col d'Allos with its 2.250m takes over the title "Roof of the Tour". Here the special prize "Souvenir Henri Desgrange" is awarded to the first driver at the top of the pass.