The 2025 Tour de France, scheduled to start in Lille on July 5, faces potential disruption from protests organized by the CGT union in response to job cuts by ArcelorMittal in the local steel industry. Union leaders assert that unless there is a discussion on nationalizing steel, protests may hinder the race. With significant layoffs prompting local demonstrations, the impact on the Tour echoes past events where protests have arisen, raising concerns over security and public order during the iconic cycling event.
"If we don't sit down before July 7 to discuss the nationalisation of the steel industry, there will be no yellow jersey in Dunkirk," Delescaut stated.
"Metal affects everyone. Including cycling," emphasized Delescaut, underlining the broader implications of the steel industry crisis on the Tour de France.
"Unless the Ministers of the Interior and Justice are capable of putting a CRS officer every 20 meters...that's one comrade every 100 meters," Delescaut warned.
Previous Tours have been impacted by protests, including a notable incident during the 2022 Tour when climate activists blocked the road during stage 10.
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