GERAINT THOMAS was one of over 100 Tour de France riders stopped after drifting into a cloud of TEAR GAS.

A farmers' strike just ahead of the race forced police to spray protesters — and it got into the riders' eyes as they rowed past.

22 Geraint Thomas is in the Yellow Jersey and was one of the riders with tear gas caught in his eyes Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Protesters were sprayed by police with massive clouds of tear gas Credit: Reuters

22 Protesters had to be dragged away from the road by Gendarmes after they managed to get the race stopped Credit: Reuters

22 Bales of hay had to be removed from the road after a farmers' protest further ahead Credit: Reuters

22 Chris Froome puts eye drops in his eyes after being affected by the gas Credit: EPA

22 Quick-Step Cycling tweeted that tear gas had been used to disperse protesting farmers Credit: Twitter

The farmers were dispersed after dumping bales of hay on the road, causing scenes of anger and confusion.

The protest outside Fanjeaux — just 18 miles after stage 16 had begun in Carcassonne — forced race officials to stop the cyclists and wait safely, rather than risk crashing with pepper spray in the riders' eyes.

A number of riders could be seen dropping fluid into their eyes as others took the opportunity for a toilet break.

Police stood in front of the cars containing Christian Prudhomme, the race director and explained the situation to the Tour supremo.

Tour de France star Philippe Gilbert in horror crash during Stage 16

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22 Thomas washes his face down with water after getting tear gas in his eyes Credit: Reuters

22 Froome attempts to squirt the liquid into his eyes Credit: EPA

22 Froome pulled a face but was actually trying to get his eyes cleaned Credit: AP:Associated Press

22 Police chased protesters off the road and doused them in pepper spray - but the effect was felt throughout the peloton Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Several riders were seen using eye drops during stage 16 Credit: Reuters

22 Police with assault rifles chase down a protester with a bucket Credit: Reuters

22 Chris Froome stood by the road chatting to rivals after the race was neutralised for around 15 minutes Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Many riders could not stop rubbing their eyes after the incident Credit: AFP or licensors

22 A policeman covers his face in front of the tractors that loaded bales of hay into the road at the Tour de France Credit: AFP or licensors

Some were given medical treatment by their team's doctors, while several policeman attempted to keep protesters away from the race.

Former Yellow Jersey wearer David Millar said on ITV's coverage: "This is a classic farmers' strike, at the last minute tractors pushed the bales of hay in.

"And that's gone and at the very last second just shut the race down."

Thomas is aiming to win his first Tour de France crown, with four-time winner Chris Froome in second place, 1min 39sec down on his Sky team-mate in second.

Today's stage and Wednesday's huge mountain leg should give a much clearer indication of who will win the three-week event.

22 Simon Clarke gets a team-mate to spray his face with water Credit: EPA

22 Race director Christian Prudhomme gets on the phone to local law enforcement over the delay Credit: EPA

22 Sky rider Michal Kwiatkowski sits down on the side of the road after the incident Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Competitors washed their faces down after tear gas drifted into the path of the oncoming peloton Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Riders were left washing their eyes out with eye drops after tear gas reportedly drifted into the peloton Credit: ITV

22 The entire peloton was stopped further down the road as the protest was dispersed by police... using tear gas Credit: AFP or licensors

22 Tour broadcasters later highlighted exactly what happened as tractors pushed bales of hay into the road at the last second in protest at the Tour de France Credit: ITV