Tour de France Stopped After Police Spray Riders With Chemicals

The incident occurred when police were subduing protesting farmers.

Riders react after riding through tear gas during a farmers' protest who attempted to block the stage's route, during the 16th stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, between Carcassonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon, southwestern France, on July 24, 2018. - The race was halted for several minutes on July 24 after tear gas was used as protesting farmers attempted to block the route. (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images)
Riders react after riding through tear gas during a farmers' protest who attempted to block the stage's route, during the 16th stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, between Carcassonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon, southwestern France, on July 24, 2018. - The race was halted for several minutes on July 24 after tear gas was used as protesting farmers attempted to block the route. (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

The Tour de France was halted on Tuesday 18 miles into the 16th stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon when police accidentally sprayed several riders with chemicals.

The chemicals, believed to be pepper spray and tear gas, were used by the police in an attempt to subdue a group of farmers who were protesting along the path of the prestigious race.

According to reports, one policeman didn’t account for the wind and sprayed himself as well.

The farmers, who threw bales of hay and drove tractors into the peloton’s path, were protesting four-time champion Chris Froome’s participation in the event. Froome used twice the permitted level of salbutamol in a win at the Spanish Vuelta and was cleared just before the Tour began.

Following the incident, riders were treated while the gas dispersed and the race resumed after about a 15-minute halt.

Unfortunately for riders on the Tour, chemicals aren’t the only hazard they’ve had to worry about …

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