(AP) – After fans had caused chaos in the Alps by setting off flares, tear gas from police accidentally played havoc with Tour de France riders during the first stage in the Pyrenees on Tuesday.
Chris Froome was among a large group of riders whose eyes needed treatment when police intervened to disperse farmers protesting funding cuts by disrupting cycling’s biggest race.
Bales of hay blocked the road 30 kilometers into the 218-kilometer stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Tour organizers said police used tear gas to move the protesters as the peloton approached.
Four-time champion Froome, race leader Geraint Thomas, and world champion Peter Sagan were among those affected. Froome was treated with eye drops and Sagan poured water over his face to clean his eyes.
ICYMI, police used tear gas to push back farmers protesting today’s stage. But the wind blew it into riders’ eyes (AFP/NBC). #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/zOIcYs2DJd
— cyclingreporter (@cyclingreporter) July 24, 2018
Han tirado gas pimienta a los ciclistas en el comienzo de la 16 etapa del #TDF2018. Han tenido que parar la carrera para que los ciclistas se recuperen. pic.twitter.com/aHHVAOQEOE
— Diego Vos ~ Tour de Francia ?? (@diegovos_) July 24, 2018
Stage 16 resumed after a 15-minute delay.
”I was lucky that it did not affect me too much, I had a bit of tingling in the back of the throat but I used some water to wash it out,” said Thomas.
Froome, who remained in second place overall, 1 minute, 39 seconds behind teammate Thomas, said the effects of the gas did not last long.
”I just sprayed some water, water in the eyes, water on the face,” he said. ”Just felt throat and nose were burning, eyes were burning afterwards. But I think quite a lot of riders were in a similar situation. I think we’re all grateful for temporary neutralization and to clear, to have a couple of (kilometers) to clear our eyes, nose out, then the racing continued again.”
Pierre Latour, who wears the white jersey for the best young rider, said he noticed police were using tear gas when he arrived at the road blockade.
”With the headwind, the gas came back to the peloton. Lots of us had to stop to drink and douse water over our eyes,” Latour said.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme condemned the farmers’ action and demanded more respect for riders.
”The road should remain free, we are not going to lock the riders in a stadium or on a tennis court,” he said. ”The riders’ job is extremely dangerous, they are taking risks every day, people should not block the road, no matter what causes they are fighting for.”
Greg Van Avermaet said race organizers made a good decision by neutralizing the stage, allowing the peloton to resume competing after three kilometers.
”I was not affected because I was not in the first 10 of the group,” he said. ”I heard some of the guys had problems so I thought it was a good decision to stop and wait and bring everything together.”
According to a statement from French authorities in the local Aude department, a small group of 20 activists made the intervention to protest a planned reduction of European Union funding in their area. Standing on the side of the road with a herd of about 50 sheep, the farmers threw hay bales on the race route just minutes before the peloton arrived.
