RIDERS HALT TOUR IN PROTEST AT POLICE DRUG RAID

THE scandal-hit Tour de France sank into further chaos yesterday, when the
riders stopped the prestigious cycle race to protest against police raids
on team hotels, staged as part of a crackdown on drug-taking.

When they finally agreed to continue, after 30 minutes, they did so without
wearing their race numbers, which led to the 93-mile stage - the 17th, from
Albertville to Aix-les-Bains - being declared void.

Marco Pantani of Italy, the overall leader, was one of the first riders to
remove his number, ripping it from the famous yellow jersey. He said: "This
action is being taken because of the persecution of the TVM team. The
riders are fed up."

Despite the protests, police last night searched the hotel of the Francaise
des Jeux team, and riot police were deployed around the hotel where the
Polti and Casino teams were spending the night in Chambery. The director of
the Casino team, Vincent Lavenu, was taken away for questioning.

Earlier, crowds booed the riders as they coasted along the course, but they
were greeted by warm applause as they finished en masse. Four riders from
the TVM team finished together ahead of the rest, who had agreed that the
Dutch team should lead the way.

The Tour has been rocked since its start by doping scandals involving the
Festina team, who were kicked out of the race on doping charges, and TVM.
It is scheduled to finish in Paris on Sunday.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)