Sky not only source of discontent with Tour as break-up of farmers’ protest reflects event increasingly removed from the characteristics that once made it a fête populaire
Tears will not be enough to persuade the disillusioned French public that Geraint Thomas, or Chris Froome, are worthy Tour de France champions. Both Team Sky riders wiped tears from their eyes during stage 16 after they were caught in the clouds of spray wafting across the fields of the Aude after the gendarmerie broke up a mid-race farmer’s protest.
Such protests have long been part of the Tour’s fabric and should not be conflated with other security issues during this year’s race, yet there was a ruthlessness to the reaction of the police that once again reinforced the impression that the modern, corporate-sponsored Tour has become increasingly removed from the characteristics that once made it a fête populaire, a French people’s party.
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