Published by Lyn on 3 June 2015
***UPDATE
This stage has now been re-routed. See here for the latest info.
***UPDATE
Stage 20 of the 2015 Tour de France from Modane Valfréjus to Alpe d'Huez may be re-routed following structural problems in the Grand Tunnel du Chambon.
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If you are planning on watching Stage 20 of the 2015 Tour de France on or near Alpe d'Huez, you should plan ahead and allow extra time for making it to the area if you are staying on the eastern side of the valley near La Grave or Briançon (on the eastern end of the D1091).
As this local newspaper report explains, there are structural problems with Grand Tunnel du Chambon near Lac du Chambon and the road remains closed.
Cracks developed in the tunnel in March and the tunnel was closed in April. Local authorities have been waiting for the snow to melt so a proper assessment of the damage could be made. Proper analysis of the problem this week has revealed additional structural problems, including the risk of landslide, which as thrown out a mid-June timetable for repairs.
Stage 20 of the 2015 Tour de France from Modane Valfréjus to Alpe d'Huez on July 25 is scheduled to run along this road. It will need to be re-routed (most likely from the Galibier) if the problems with the tunnel cannot be fixed in time, or an alternative solution found (there has been talk of the French Army building a temporary road to allow the Tour passage).
If a solution is not found and the route is changed, anyone staying east of the tunnel and wanting to watch the race on Alpe d'Huez would be in for a long drive around the valley. You won't be affected if you are staying on the western side of the tunnel for stages 18-20.
If you are visiting the area for the La Marmotte on July 4, note that organisers have already announced that the route will change, though the ride will still start in Bourg d’Oisans and the finish on Alpe d’Huez.
Anyone wanting to cycle the Galibier from Alpe d'Huez during this period won't be able to do a full circular route but will need to double back through Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
As always, the best advice is local advice. See here for our Tour de France accommodation page.
Local authorities are aso posting updated on this Facebook page.
(Thanks to Gill at Le Chateau d'Oz for the update).
