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LA CAVERNE DU PONT-D’ARC: ’ crosses the finish line during the thirteenth stage of the race, an over 37.5 kilometers with start in Bourg-Saint-Andeol and finish yesterday. — AP Tour de France to continue as planned Nice attack reinforces security measures

LA CAVERNE DU PONT-D’ARC: The Tour de would be too easy for them.” Defending tims with dignity,” said Prudhomme, wearing a intervention squads, while security guards per- France rode on as planned yesterday, with champion , the race’s current black armband around his blue shirt and hold- form bag checks and pat downs at the start thousands of fans lining the roads and amid leader, posted a picture of the blue, white and ing back tears. “We have been asking ourselves and finish of every stage. Eric Luzet, the reinforced security a day after the deadly attack red French flag on Twitter yesterday and if the race should continue and after consulting police’s liaison officer to the Tour, told The in Nice. France was reeling again after a large wrote: “Thoughts are with those affected by with authorities we have decided that it should. Associated Press that extra security measures truck mowed through a crowd of revelers gath- the horrific terror attack in Nice.” The Tour de France will continue in a subdued were implemented overnight, with 600 police ered for a Bastille Day fireworks display in the Froome was scheduled to compete in the and solemn manner.” The publicity caravan, officers in charge of security for the stage. “We Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84 people on race’s first time trial later yesterday after organ- which precedes the riders on the stage route have adjusted our measures after what hap- Thursday night. The attack, on France’s nation- izers decided the hilly 37.5-kilometer leg to La everyday handing out free gifts and souvenirs pened in Nice,” Luzet said. “They have been al holiday, followed attacks last November in Caverne du Pont-D’Arc in the Ardeche region and blasting loud music, rode silently yesterday. deployed at the start and finish of the stage, Paris that killed 130. will go ahead following an emergency meeting and along the 37.5-kilometer of the route.” But the carnage did not deter fans from with authorities. There was a moment of silence Reinforced security Bauke Mollema, who was involved in a crash showing up in numbers at the starting line in at the start, several hours drive from Nice, and Security had already been reinforced at the with Froome inside the last kilometer of the small town of Bourg-Saint-Andeol. “We Tour director Christian Prudhomme said there Tour this year, with France in a state of emer- Thursday’s Stage 12 at when a can’t let our guard down, but it was important will be a ceremony with a minute’s silence at gency since the Paris attacks. The three-week TV motorbike was forced to stop on the road that they continued the race,” said Bruno the finish as a tribute to the victims. race is protected by an unprecedented force of because of fans congestion, said his “thoughts Pruvost, a 56-year-old fan. “Otherwise, it “Today, we want to pay homage to the vic- 23,000 police officers, including SWAT-like are with the people in Nice.” — AP