Petition against Tour stage: Royal stage 2026 about to be cancelled due to environmental concerns?
Leon Weidner
· 26.11.2025
The Tour de France's queen stage planned for 2026 may be on the brink of cancellation. An online petition entitled "Non au passage du Tour de France 2026 au col de Sarenne" has collected almost 6,000 signatures in a short space of time. The petition is directed against the inclusion of the Col de Sarenne in the route of the 20th stage of the Tour de France 2026, which is considered the queen stage of the race and is to end at the neighbouring Alpe d'Huez. Environmentalists fear that the masses of spectators, vehicles and media coverage will cause considerable damage to the protected Alpine region. The rare flora and nesting bird species in particular could be disturbed by the major event. "The organisers of the Tour de France 2026 want to turn the Col de Sarenne into the largest stadium in the world," writes the initiator of the petition, Matthieu Stelvio. "Placed at the end of the stage, the climb could attract hundreds of thousands of spectators."
Historical context and environmental concerns
The Col de Sarenne has only rarely appeared in the history of the Tour de France. In the Tour de France itself, the Col de Sarenne has only been ridden once so far, as a descent between two climbs to Alpe d'Huez in 2013, when Stelvio launched a similar petition that collected more than 12,000 signatures. However, despite an open letter to the organiser ASO, he received no response. The environmentalists' concerns centre on the sensitive ecosystem of the Ferrand Valley, where the Col de Sarenne is located.
Double load from professionals and amateurs
According to the petition, the double burden on the region is particularly problematic, as not only the professional peloton, but also thousands of amateurs will ride the controversial climb. The L'Étape du Tour de France amateur race, in which around 16,000 amateurs follow a Tour stage, is to use the route on 19 July - six days before the professionals climb the mountain. "The rare and fragile flora of the area will be trampled by the crowds, perhaps even crushed by hundreds of vehicles and hundreds of tents," warns Stelvio in his petition. In addition, the helicopters used for the television broadcast could disturb the nesting birds. The environmental activist and author asks the fundamental question: "Is this really the right place to organise an event that could attract as many spectators as 10 Stade de France stadiums?"
Growing conflict between sport and environmental protection
The controversy surrounding the Col de Sarenne is part of a growing debate about the environmental impact of major sporting events. "Nature is more important than this spectacle business (which has often turned out to be a scam). And the organisers of the Tour de France don't care about nature," Stelvio continues to write in his petition. The Tour de France attracts millions of spectators to the route every year and leaves a significant environmental footprint. While the organisers have increasingly focused on sustainability in recent years, the fundamental question remains as to whether certain particularly sensitive natural areas should be completely excluded from the route. According to the plans, the Col de Sarenne is to be used as a climb in the Tour de France for the first time, which increases its importance for the race, but also increases the potential environmental impact.
Conclusion and outlook
The discussion about the inclusion of the Col de Sarenne in the Tour de France 2026 raises important questions about the connection between sport and environmental protection. Despite the 6000 signatures collected, the Tour de France organiser has not yet commented on the petition. It remains to be seen whether this initiative will lead to a change in the plans. However, the growing pressure from environmentalists shows that awareness of the ecological impact of such major events is increasing. Only time will tell whether the organisers will respond to these concerns.
Leon Weidner
Working student
