Tour de France increases security amid fears of climate change protests and civil unrest

People look at burning tyres blocking a street in Bordeaux during civil unrest and protests following the killing by police of 17-year-old Nahel M in Nanterre on Tuesday
People look at burning tyres blocking a street in Bordeaux during civil unrest and protests following the killing by police of 17-year-old Nahel M in Nanterre on Tuesday (Image credit: PHILIPPE LOPEZAFP via Getty Images)

Tour de France organisers plan to increase security around the race and stay vigilant due to a growing double risk of disruption from climate change activists and a threat of growing civil unrest in France.

Race director Christian Prudhomme said that he and his staff are in "constant liaison" with the French government, following three nights of civil unrest and protests across France after the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old boy Nahel M in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday.

Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.