NANTES, France, July 7, 2008 (AFP) – The Tour de France third stage was
momentarily held up by demonstrators here on Monday.

Race chief Christian Prudhomme was forced to stop and negotiate with trade
union leaders as dozens of striking demonstrators threatened to cause a total
blockage of the road leading to Nantes.

At the time, four stage leaders were approaching the demonstrators – who
were congregated at the 58km to go mark of the 208km stage which began in
Saint Malo – and they managed to squeeze through a passage provided by police
and Tour officials.

They undoubtedly lost some of their advantage on the peloton, who at the
time had a seven-minute deficit to the front runners.