Mass logging on the Ballon d’Alsace puts Tour de France under pressure from French environmental groups

The 2026 Tour de France will pass over the Ballon d’Alsace in less than two months, and stage preparations have sparked a sharp environmental dispute. The removal of more than a thousand trees in the area prompted an immediate response from environmental groups, who denounce an excessive intervention in the name of sporting spectacle.

Four Alsatian associations have spoken out, arguing that the works went far beyond what is reasonable. With a clear message — defend safety without ravaging the landscape — the groups say the operation has inflicted unnecessary damage on the local ecosystem.

This is not a new situation in the world of cycling, which often leads the peloton, convoy and fans into the high mountains and isolated areas, which are at times heavily protected. Last fall, the summit finish at Bola del Mundo was in jeopardy over the final kilometers. It was ultimately raced, but without fans in the final steep stretch of the climb.

Among the critical organisations are Alsace Nature, LPO Alsace, Gepma, and Bufo. All agree that the rush to ready the road ahead of the Tour does not justify the scale of the logging.

In a joint statement, they question both the timing and the manner of the works, suggesting the race calendar outweighed the protection of the natural environment.

The authorities, however, offer a very different version. The Prefecture of Haut-Rhin maintains that the intervention meets a real need: adapting the road to the surge in traffic the race will generate.

According to official figures, 1,071 trees have been felled over roughly 4.5 kilometres. They insist the operation is not solely tied to the event, but to road safety criteria.

The regional head of the Office National des Forêts, Stéphanie Rauscent, stressed that the project is not new. She explained it is a plan conceived around a decade ago, now carried out at a quicker pace due to the Tour’s proximity.

She also argues that many of the removed trees were in poor condition or deteriorating, making their removal necessary for both safety and forest management.

The case reopens the debate on the impact of major sporting events on the natural environment. While the Tour seeks to guarantee safety and a top-class show, the associations warn of the risk of prioritising media visibility over conservation.

With the stage drawing nearer, tension continues to rise on the Ballon d’Alsace, now a symbol of a broader conflict between sport, territory, and sustainability.