If pro-Palestine demonstrations are talking a lot on the other side of the border and greatly disrupt the course of The return 2025another major movement also impacts France this Wednesday, September 10: the protest movement “let's block everything”! A strong mobilization to block the country throughout France which does not spare the departments of Drôme and the Ardèche, in which the Ardèche International Women's Cycling Tour. In the aftermath of the victory of Lotte Kopecky (SD World-Protime), the organization was therefore forced to cancel at the last moment its 2nd stage drawn between Saint-Rambert-D'Albon and Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse, on prefectural judgment linked to these demonstrations which mobilize all the police. After first receiving the green light in the morning to try to launch without the gendarmerie services, prudence and security finally took over this Wednesday noon.
Louis Jeannin: “The cleaver fell, we did not expect it because we still had hope …”
Director of Tcfia, Louis Jeannin returned to this decision. “”The cleaver fell, we did not expect it because we still had the hope that we could leave. But of course, we did not know the exact tenur of the magnitude of the movement. They therefore made the decision in a collegial manner not to allow us to leave, so a canceled step. We got along with the prefecture, which had given us authorization to leave at 10 a.m. We had to make a point at 12:30 p.m. on the evolution of the situation. I know things and the demonstrations well, I know that it often evolves very very quickly. Unfortunately, in Valence it developed a lot, with overflows. There were also many demonstrators who were heading towards Romans-sur-Isère, and then, in the northern sector of the department, where we intervene and passes. So the decision was to cancel“, he explained. This mobilization being planned only for a day, the race should be able to resume without worry this Thursday, with a 3rd stage between Avignon and Pernes-les-Fontaines.
“Security remains absolute priority. The rest of the TCFIA is maintained at this stage”
The organization then split a press release to clarify the situation, specifying that the rest of the TCFIA was not threatened at this stage. “”The organization of the international female cycling tour of the Ardèche informs that the 2ᵉ stage, scheduled today between Saint-Rambert-D'Albon and Saint-Donat, has been canceled. This decision follows a prefectural decree made by the competent authorities. The safety of runners, followers, the public and the entire caravan of the event remains the absolute priority. The organization takes note of this measure and thanks all the partners, communities, spectators and volunteers for their understanding. The rest of the TCFIA is maintained at this stage. Any evolution of the situation will be the subject of official communication“.
