News reports from southwestern France this Tuesday suggest that local farmers engaged in the time-honoured activity of throwing bales of straw on to public roads in protest at something or other were violently interrupted by a mob of cyclists.
Cycling: Tour de France interrupted by farmers' protest and police tear gas https://t.co/564x4tALNM pic.twitter.com/a5Ma6NGGQ4
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 24, 2018
The cyclists, riding at breakneck speeds and blatantly ignoring the rules of the road, tried to force their way through the farmers' protest, alleging they were taking part in some race called the Tour de France.
Police quickly intervened, tear-gassing the cyclists copiously (another local tradition) and interrupting the race for several minutes.
#UPDATE Tour de France halted for several minutes during 16th stage between Carcassonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon after tear gas used by police on protesting farmers near the route, Tour radio says #TDF2018 @AFP_Sport pic.twitter.com/vGrcTvtpur
— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 24, 2018
According to reports, the rural road at the scene was later cleared of cyclists and returned to its rightful agricultural use.
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