Tour de France 2019: Stage 20 under threat of being cancelled as severe weather continues in Val Thorens

Hailstorms, torrential rain and landslides left serious safety concerns as bad weather conditions in the Alps failed to abate overnight ahead of the penultimate stage

The 20th and penultimate stage of the Tour de France came under threat of cancellation after severe weather conditions continued to batter the Alps on Saturday.

The region of Val Thorens was hit by hailstorms and torrential downpours, resulting in Friday’s stage to Tignes being cut short when landslides started to cut off the road up the final mountain climb.

Organisers decided to make an early decision and cut Saturday’s penultimate stage, which starts in Albertville and finishes in Val Thorens, by 71 km.

But the severe weather did not abate overnight and footage from the finish line revealed just how bad conditions remained, with Eurosport presenter Orla Channaoui posting an image taken from a live stream on Twitter where a stream could be seen flowing across the finish line.

Elsehwere, local authorities were working to here multiple landslides that had blocked public roads being used to the Tour, which is due to climax in Paris on Sunday where Team Ineos rider Egan Bernal is expected to claim his maiden victory.

However, organisers confirmed that the stage will go ahead around 90 minutes before it was due to get underway, although they did confirm that the publicity caravan could not head up towards the finish line due to the conditions and would only drive a loop around Albertville ahead of the stage.

Even if the stage had been scrapped, the ASO would have endured a logistical nightmare given that all of the teams are staying the night at the Val Thorens resort, meaning they would need to travel up the mountain regardless.

Bernal has a slender lead over long-time leader Julian Alaphilippe and teammate Geraint Thomas, but the shortened stage on Saturday and traditional procession on Sunday means it is unlikely either will have the opportunity to attack Colombian Bernal during Saturday’s stage.