Story highlights Stage 16 of prestigious cycling race halted

Reports police used tear gas on protesters

(CNN) The Tour de France -- cycling's most prestigious race -- was temporarily halted Tuesday after tear gas, used to disperse protesters by police, inadvertently got into the eyes of some riders.

Protesting farmers had blocked the road with hay bales, leading police to spray them with CS gas.

Unhappy farmers had organized the protest because they "wanted to be seen" by France's Minister of Agriculture, Stéphane Travert, according to a police source.

"Looks like the tear gas used by the police on the farmers ended up getting to the eyes of some riders," tweeted the Quick-Step Cycling team.

Gendarmes detain a protesting farmer.

The police source confirmed the race was stopped because the organizers wanted the gas to disperse to avoid any other riders being affected.