The stage from Albertville to La Plagne was meant to be 80.5 miles long but trimmed to 57.7 miles, according to the official Tour website's stage map on Friday.

Tour de France organizers have shortened Stage 19 of the competition to avoid a herd of cows which have suffered an outbreak of disease.

Yes, race organisers have been forced to change the route of stage 19 because of a herd of diseased cattle on the Col des Saisies. It means the stage distance has been cut from 130km to 95km, with two of the five planned categorised climbs dropped, and the racing has only just got under way in Albertville.