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Tour de France stage goes ahead despite Nice attackTour de France logo

Tour de France stage goes ahead despite Nice attack

Minute's silence held before today's individual time trial...
by Simon_MacMichael
Fri, Jul 15, 2016 09:44
7

Today's Stage 13 individual time trial at the Tour de France is under way despite security concerns following last night's terrorist attack in Nice that left more than 80 people dead.

A minute's silence was held before the Sam Bennett of Bora-Argon 18 rolled off the ramp as the first rider out on today's stage, which covers 37.5km from Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d'Arc.

ASO reportedly considered cancelling the stage, but confirming it would go ahead, race director Christian Prudhomme said: "The stage goes ahead, the Tour will continue in dignity, we will not give in to people who want to change our way of life."

It is understood that some of the police officers working on the Tour de France have been redeployed to Nice following last night's attack, in which a lorry ploughed into crowds celebrating Bastille Day who were gathered on the Promenade des Anglais.

As a mark of respect to the victims, there will be no sound at the start or finish areas, nor was there music in the publicity caravan.

Tour de France 2016
Nice
Nice attack
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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7 comments

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handlebarcam | 8 years ago
3 likes

I imagine if today's stage had been a normal road race, the peloton would have neutralized racing and rolled over the line together, probably with the French riders up at the front. It is a pity it is an individual time trial today. It will be subdued without offering a chance to show solidarity.

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Dnnnnnn replied to handlebarcam | 8 years ago
0 likes

handlebarcam wrote:

I imagine if today's stage had been a normal road race, the peloton would have neutralized racing and rolled over the line together, probably with the French riders up at the front. It is a pity it is an individual time trial today. It will be subdued without offering a chance to show solidarity.

I think that sounds about right. 

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mrchrispy | 8 years ago
5 likes

i go to Nice tomorrow.

I shall be dishing out loving vibes and not letting some mentalist dictate how we live. 

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psling | 8 years ago
1 like

"...we will not give in to people who want to change our way of life."

This.

Show respect for the dead and injured and their relatives/friends yes, mourne for those killed yes but don't let terrorism win.

Un autre jour triste en France 2 
 

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tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
0 likes

Double edged sword that. You equally then show disregard for the loss of human life.

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Paul_C | 8 years ago
1 like

the best way to defeat them is to deny them the 'oxygen' of publicity... simply report on it and then drop it... none of this massive media splurge taking over the newspapers and the TV reporting...

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tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
0 likes

Was wondering if they'd cancel considering the 3 day period of mourning they're having now. 

The riders and crowds will feel solemn. I know you shouldn't let terrorists affect or change anything, but what a miserable day it'll be for everyone. If they did postpone the Tour even for a day, I wouldn't have minded at all.

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