Tour de France pays tribute to Nice massacre victims

Riders at the Tour de France have been paying tribute to the victims of last night’s massacre in Nice when terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a lorry was deliberately driven into crowds watching a Bastille Day firework display on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 84 people and leaving dozens of other seriously injured, many of them in intensive care.

Most of the cyclists on the Tour will have ridden along the scene of the atrocity during Paris-Nice, with the race typically finishing on the road where celebrations turned to tragedy last night.

Many riders – including Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas of Team Sky, which also has a service course on the Cote d’Azur, and Richie Porte and Philippe Gilbert of BMC Racing – o  live along the coast in Monaco, with Nice their closest airport.

There was a minute’s silence before and after today’s Stage 13 time trial, and race director Christian Prudhomme said: "The stage goes ahead, the Tour will continue in dignity, we will not give in to people who want to change our way of life."

The stage winner this afternoon, Tom Dumoulin of Giant-Alpecin, spoke about last night’s events when he was interviewed after the stage.

“First of all, I want to say that something really bad happened last night,” he said.” It made me very sad when I woke up this morning.

“I wondered if the Tour would continue or not. It's horrific but it's a good decision to keep racing.

“We cannot let the terrorists decide how we should be living.

“Two hours before my starting time, I focused on my time trialling again as there was nothing else I could do but ride well and I did,” he added.

Race leader Chris Froome was among those to comment on Twitter, as did team Sky.

Thoughts are with those affected by the horrific terror attack in Nice pic.twitter.com/tM6IBN30xE

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 15, 2016

Our thoughts today are with everyone affected by the tragic events in Nice pic.twitter.com/9xAxj8LX0A

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 15, 2016

Lotto-Belisol’s Adam Hansen, riding a record 15th consecutive Grand Tour, also paid tribute after the stage.

To remember all the people in Nice.... @veloimages @LeTour pic.twitter.com/LNTwc6D9Oi

— Adam Hansen (@HansenAdam) July 15, 2016

Le coeur du Tour bat pour Nice. #NousSommesUnis pic.twitter.com/2xtmfqWgWf

— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 15, 2016