The CIC Mont Ventoux race has been shortened, with the second ascent of the "Bald Mountain" cut from the route due to the risk of storms.

Formerly known as the Mont Ventoux-Denivelle Challenge, Tuesday's one-day race was scheduled to climb this mountain, one of the most legendary in the Tour de France, twice.

However, the threat of a storm on Tuesday afternoon made the second climb, a highly exposed climb that was supposed to be a summit finish, too risky.

The race would finish at the summit of Mont Ventoux, but after 99 km of racing, instead of the scheduled 154 km, at approximately 13:30 Central European Time.

"Due to inclement weather, the race will finish at the summit of Mont Ventoux after the first climb.

"This decision was made to ensure the safety of the riders, which is our top priority. As organizers, we are a little disappointed that we will not be able to run the route we originally set, but this decision is a wise one."

The CIC Mont Ventoux will be held for the first time in 2019 and will be climbed from three different directions around the so-called "Giants of Provence".

The best known is the climb from Bedoin, which was cut as the finishing climb for Tuesday's race. Instead, racers climb from the Sousse, which is generally longer and less steep, but joins the Bedouin route at Chalet Reynard, which emerges at the top of the mountain where the wind blows through the trees.

The climb from Sulu is 24.3 km at 5%, but the last 6 km from Chalet Reynard are quite demanding. The climb begins just 74km into the race, but the relatively gentle gradient on the approach from Sault means that the pack is expected to make an explosive dash to the top of Ventoux.

The start list features 16 teams, including six WorldTour teams: Movistar, EF Education-Easy Post, Groupama-FDJ, AG2R Citroen, Cofidis, and Arkea Samsic.

In the second division, Israel Premier Tech lines up with Chris Froome, who won Mont Ventoux in 2013, his first Tour de France title.

Past winners of the CIC Mont Ventoux include Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Alexander Vlasov, Miguel Angel Lopez, and Ruben Guerreiro, who will also participate in this year's race.