With the return home, security concerns grow at the Tour de France. The unrest in France could also affect the most important sporting event in the Grande Nation by the seventh stage, which ends in Bordeaux on Friday. “We are following developments closely and are in constant contact with the Ministry of the Interior,” said tour director Christian Prudhomme.
This is how the tour reacts
The tour organization Aso wants to increase safety precautions during the stages. These measures were only partially taken in relation to the riots sparked by the death of a 17-year-old by a police bullet during a traffic stop. The Aso is also concerned that climate activists could use the race for headline-grabbing actions. In the past there were always road blockades. Most of the time, however, these could be removed before the peloton reached their respective locations.
This is how the drivers react
In the field, the situation in France is not really a big issue. The pros get the news, but are otherwise in the tour tunnel. Only among French professionals is the situation at home more present. “We’re in the Basque Country and we’re racing. But just because you’re a cyclist doesn’t mean you’re a citizen. We’re in a problematic situation,” said Simon Geschke’s captain Guillaume Martin. From the team’s point of view, this issue is generally the responsibility of Aso. It is her responsibility to ensure that the tour runs smoothly.
This is how politics reacts
President Emmanuel Macron gathered members of the government for a crisis meeting at the Elysée Palace on Sunday evening. In the past few nights, there have been violent riots, looting and arson attacks in many cities. Several hundred rioters were arrested every night. Because of the young age of many of the rioters, Macron had appealed to parents to take responsibility. The grandmother of the dead teenager called on Sunday for peace to come.
