A number of Tour de France riders needed medical treatment after police used a spray to break up a farmers’ protest early on stage 16. The race was neutralised after farmers threw hay bales into the road 29 kilometres into the stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.
ITV4’s commentary team of Ned Boulting and David Millar say that it was a member of the Gendarmerie who accidentally sprayed several cyclists and himself, as the chemical blew back into the policeman’s face.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene says four-time champion Chris Froome and other riders had eye drops applied while the race stopped for several minutes