There are problems with the Tour de France: a petition could jeopardize the queen stage of the Grande Boucle. This is not just any stage, but the twentieth from Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez through the Col de Sarenne climb. As seen during the presentation of the yellow race in Paris, the twentieth stage could turn the race upside down, potentially disrupting the general classification and changing the final result of the race.

The stage from Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez will be 171 km long, with approximately 5,600 meters of elevation gain and will feature climbs like Croix de Fer, Télégraphe, and Galibier, concluding with the unprecedented climb to Col de Sarenne before the final arrival at Alpe d'Huez. But it is precisely the Col de Sarenne that is the central point of this potential stage cancellation, as a petition has been launched across France: "No to the Tour de France 2026 passage at Col de Sarenne", which has already collected almost 7,000 signatures.

The reason for the protest is the preservation of nature and particularly animals like marmots, foxes, chamois, white partridges, ermines, and mountain grouse. The petition reads: "On July 25, 2026, it is expected that a large number of people will pour into the Ferrand valley. A valley usually populated by marmots, foxes, chamois, white partridges, ermines, as well as the fragile mountain grouse, emblematic ground-nesting birds whose chicks are born in July, during the Tour de France. In terms of location and timing, it is difficult to find a worse place to attract crowds, and it is our responsibility to protect mountain flora and fauna".

For now, the organizers have not made any changes to the route and only in the coming weeks will it be possible to know how they will proceed.

Cycling is no stranger to such demonstrations to protect nature, and the Giro d'Italia has been forced to make modifications to safeguard protected animal species that are in their reproductive phase in May. The Tour has previously implemented precautions to preserve wild mountain animals, eliminating helicopter use, whose noise could frighten wildlife, in specific sections of alpine passes.