Flash storm and insane weather forces Tour de France to hault mid-Stage 19

Friday’s stage of the Tour de France delivered drama in spades. The morning started with Thibaut Pinot abandoning but that news was quickly overshadowed. Shortly after the lead riders crested the summit of the Col de l’Iseran, word came through race radio that the race was going to be neutralized because of ice, hail, snow and water on the road. A flash storm in the valley between the Col de l’Iseran and the Montée de Tignes flooded parts of the road and there were reports of landslides on the road as well.

The ramifications of the race being stopped mid-stage are still unknown. Suggestions began that the times would be taken at the top of the Col de l’Iseran which was crested first by Egan Bernal (Team Ineos). Organizers and the race jury were scrambling to determine what to do.

See for yourself how horrible the conditions were on the road that was supposed to be used in the finale of the stage:

Crazy weather conditions in the downhill in Val d’Isère ??❄️ @LeTour #TDF2019 #TDF pic.twitter.com/Dv6TcYbr9a

— Circus – Wanty Gobert – Tormans Cycling Team (@CircusWGT) July 26, 2019

Breukink will win the stage. pic.twitter.com/TO94TmI1Uz

— ednl ?? (@ednl) July 26, 2019

La 19ème étape du Tour de France est arrêtée ! @LeTour pic.twitter.com/ERJGrJhiuW

— Team Arkéa Samsic (@Arkea_Samsic) July 26, 2019

They made right call on neutralizing finish — no way they could race safely in these conditions; road flooded with water, ice, hail, slush pic.twitter.com/MtVJEjMREO

— Andrew Hood (@EuroHoody) July 26, 2019

Race stopped landslide #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/uCA1o8aOS6

— joscelinryan (@joscelinryan) July 26, 2019

Guy in the excavator is having the day of his life. +10 million people watching him doing his job.#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/gvB2BNmBFt

— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) July 26, 2019

More drama.. reporter is Dag Otto Lauritzen pic.twitter.com/IoOC4rpwIL

— Trond Iversen (@trondiversen) July 26, 2019