AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) – Dutch police will temporarily block the route of the Tour de France cycling race on July 5 to draw attention to their pay dispute with the Dutch government, unions representing them said yesterday.
The Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious road cycling race, is starting in the Dutch university town of Utrecht on Saturday, July 4, and will conclude as always in Paris after 21 days and 3,360 kilometres (2088 miles).
The ACP union said police will block the convoy of road vehicles that runs ahead of the main body of racers on the second day of the race as it crosses the 800 metre-long Erasmus Bridge across the Maas River in Rotterdam.
They will maintain the blockade until cyclists can be seen at a standstill because of the protest.
