Tour de l'Ardèche cancels stage as nationwide protests disrupt race
The Tour de l'Ardèche was forced to cancel stage 2 on Wednesday due to nationwide protests in France, despite riders already being assembled at the start line.
France is currently experiencing significant nationwide disruption amid demonstrations from the Bloquons tout ('block everything') movement, where activists nationwide are protesting against planned government austerity measures involving €43.8 billion of funding cuts and the cancellation of two public holidays.
Race organisers initially believed they could proceed with their own safety measures in place and had received approval from local authorities. However, the situation changed dramatically on Wednesday morning.
The Bloquons tout protests have caused widespread disruption across France, with protestors blocking key transport infrastructure. In Rennes, protestors set a bus on fire, blocking a highway.
The organisers of the French women's stage race were forced to cancel stage 2 on Wednesday due to a lack of available police officers, which meant in turn that they could not guarantee rider safety.
The decision came at the very last moment, with riders and teams already prepared to start the day's racing. The cancellation means Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky, who claimed victory in Tuesday's opening stage, will have to wait for her chance to extend her lead in the race.
Race officials have not yet announced how the cancellation will affect the overall race format. The six-day Tour de l'Ardèche is scheduled to continue through Sunday, assuming the available law enforcement allows for safe racing conditions.
The cancellation of the stage comes in the wake of further protests in professional cycling as protestors protest against the participation of Israel-Premier Tech at the Vuelta a España amid Israeli's ongoing invasion of Gaza. The protests have seen two stages shortened, including stage 16 on Tuesday.
