>>2006200Last year (the year before?) there was a stage in the tour that stopped for like an hour because environmentalists had a protest on the road.
The tour is famously opposed by many environmental groups in Europe, because the emissions of the caravan and the amount of disposable crap are huge. It wasn't that long ago that they'd just chuck gels away willy nilly in some of the most scenic places in the world. There have been cities that reject stages for these reasons.
Road cycling has really got nothing to do with cycling as an environmental cause. Many roadies are flagrant cagers who despise the idea of cycling for utility purposes. Mtbing is just as bad. Urbanites justify buying big pickup trucks because of mtbing (even though a small hatchback with a towbar carries bikes just as well). Rich freds will have a porsche next to their pinerallo.
Engineering / design / mechanical stuff has a strong affinity between the cycling and car worlds. They're not opposed to one another.
This isn't me complaining as i like cars and bicycles (and the anti-car movement).