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SKY SPORT
Quick-Step Floors pilot Philippe Gilbert turns against the wall during a dramatic accident at the Tour de France.
Tear gas in the eyes of riders. A demonstration of farmers blocking the road. Two major falls on dangerous descents
The only thing missing from the wild 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday was a reshuffle in the overall standings.
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe took advantage of his downhill skills to win the first of three mountainous legs in the Pyrenees, which was briefly interrupted when police used tear gas to disperse a farmers demonstration that blocked the road. with hay bales.
GETTY IMAGES
Philippe Gilbert is helped to get back on the road after knocking down a wall during a spectacular accident
The overall standings remained unchanged. Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey, Chris Froome in second place and Tom Dumoulin in third place all came with almost nine minutes late.
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PETER DEJONG / AP
The British Chris Froome puts drops in his eyes after to have been sprayed gas used to disperse a farmer demonstration that disrupted the 16th stage of the Tour de France
The demonstration of farmers occurred 30 kilometers in the leg 218km from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.
Thomas, Froome, world champion Peter Sagan and other runners were treated with ophthalmic drops because of tear gas within 15 minutes.
"I just felt my throat and nose were burning, my eyes were burning," Froome said. "But I think a lot of riders were in a similar situation
PETER DEJONG / AP [19659010] the road after the protest of a farmer interrupted the 16th stage of the Tour de France
"Fortunately, the effect did not last long", added Froome. "C & # 39; was just a temporary thing with tingling and burning. "
was the latest in a series of incidents involving spectators during this year's race, with Team Sky riders pushed and spit out and 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali, whose back was broken in an accident when a fan caught their strap on his handlebars.
"We feel safe. Obviously, in some climbs, we are not all fans, but we do not feel threatened, "said Thomas. It's hard to ride a bike when you're right on the road. It's not like football or something like that. Everyone is doing their best and we hope that everyone will be able to behave and let us run. "
PETER DEJONG / AP
the gendarmes during the 16th stage of the Tour de France
The small group of Farmers from the department of Aude protested against a planned reduction in funding of the European Union, according to French authorities
"We will not lock runners. In a stadium or tennis court, tour director Christian Prudhomme said, "People should not block the road, no matter what causes them to fight."
Thomas remains 1 minute 39 seconds ahead the four-time champion Froome, with Dumoulin 1:50 back
PETER DEJONG / AP
The riders are waiting with Briton Geraint Thomas, wearing the yellow of the overall Jersey leader, on the road after a farmer's protest has interrupted the 16th stage.
DANGEROUS DESCENT
Alaphilippus took the lead when Adam Yates crashed on a technical run in the final. [19659006″Jesavaisquelafinaleétaitdifficile”adéclaréAlaphilippe”J'étaistristepour[Yates] but it could have happened too, because I took a lot of risks … I left for 220 kilometers today, I'm exhausted. "
PETER DEJONG / AP
Police officers face protesters during the 16th stage of the Tour de France
The Belgian driver Philippe Gilbert led then that he had crashed earlier in the race .. descending the Portet-d 'Aspet Pass, hitting a wall and reversing his bike dramatically, but avoiding serious injuries C & # 39, was the same descent where the Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died during the 1995 Tour.
"I thought I was broke everywhere," said Gilbert, an Alaphilippe teammate on the 39th. Quick-Step team. "But I found myself more or less OK."
Alaphilippe also won the 10th and wear the polka dot jersey of the leader of the mountain classification.
Yates led Alaphilippus 20 seconds to the summit of the Col du Portillon climbed 10 kilometers from the finish but lost control 6 km from the finish, falling on the sidewalk during the day. a turn to the left and crossing the road
"You never know what happens in these turns". "There was a little support or something and I went down, that's all there is to it.
"Morale is very damaged right now. When you are so close to winning a stage of the Tour, it's pretty devastating, "added Yates, who won the Tour Young Rider rankings two years ago.
Alaphilippus, already gaining ground on Yates, quickly passed the British rider had time to celebrate before the finish, smiling at the crowd and shaking his head in disbelief.
Spain's Gorka Izaguirre was second, 15 seconds behind, and Yates was third at the same time.
stays in the Pyrenees on Wednesday for what could be the most difficult stage of the Tour, a 65km stage from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Saint-Lary-Soulan Portet Pass which features three grueling climbs, including a difficult climb "This last ascent is probably the most difficult of the Tour – 16 kilometers, 2,200 meters [altitude]there will certainly be divisions."
– AP
