Tear gas from police to dispel fans who had caused chaos in the Alps by setting off flares, accidentally hit Tour de France riders during the first stage in the Pyrenees on Tuesday.

Four-time champion, Chris Froome was among a large group of riders whose eyes needed treatment after police intervened to disperse farmers protesting funding cuts by disrupting cycling’s biggest race by firing tear gas.

Bales of hay blocked the road 30 kilometers into the 218-kilometer stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon, causing a 15-minute delay in Stage 16.

Race leader, Geraint Thomas and world champion, Peter Sagan were also affected with Sagan stopping and pouring water over his face to clean his eyes.

“I was lucky that it did not affect me too much, I had a bit of tingling in the back of the throat but I used some water to wash it out,” said Thomas on the finish line  after keeping his overall lead intact.

Froome, who remained in second place overall, 1 minute, 39 seconds behind Sky teammate, Thomas, said the effects of the gas did not last long.

“I just sprayed some water, water in the eyes, water on the face. Just felt throat and nose were burning, eyes were burning afterwards. But I think quite a lot of riders were in a similar situation.

“I think we’re all grateful for temporary neutralization and to clear, to have a couple of (kilometers) to clear our eyes, nose out, then the racing continued again,” Froome said.

According to a statement from French authorities in the local Aude department, a small group of 20 activists made the intervention to protest a planned reduction of European Union funding in their area.

Standing on the side of the road with a herd of about 50 sheep, the farmers threw hay bales on the race route just minutes before the peloton arrived.

This Tour has also been marred by incidents as race organizers have struggled to deal with angry fans protesting Froome’s participation for using twice the permitted level of Salbutamol during his victory at the Spanish Vuelta in September.