by Our Sports Desk

CYCLING’S set-piece Tour de France was blighted by chaos yesterday, with the twin sticks of landslides and industrial action poised to slip into the spokes.

Organisers announced yesterday that they’d been forced to steer clear of the Col du Galibier climb because of landslides.

Riders will now have to go over the Col de la Croix-de-Fer for the stage between Modane and Alpe d’Huez.But an even bigger slip-up could befall the peloton before it even reaches France.

Dutch police are threatening to disrupt the second stage of the race in a bid to make progress with stalling pay and conditions talks with the government.

They will hold a symbolic bike ride protest, dubbed the Tour de CAO after the acronym given to a collective agreement, along the course shortly before the race sets off on July 4 but have pledged to bring the race grinding to a halt the following day.

Police union NPB said officers would carry out routine traffic stops on the “advertising caravan” that goes in front of the cyclists.

“The checks will stop when it’s clear from live broadcasts in several European countries that the Tour de France cyclists have stopped because police are taking action for better working conditions,” said the union.

Union leaders opted to target the Erasmus Bridge near Rotterdam because there is no public access and so their protest would be able to proceed safely.

But union leaders appeared to be having difficulty convincing their own members of the validity of the publicity stunt.

Writing on the NPB forum, Luuk said: “I really do understand that it is difficult to take action, but here I cannot stand back and defend it. Will have to cancel my membership.”

Johan Melet warned it could “turn public opinion against the police,” complaining that as a “cop on the street” he would have to defend the actions.

However, Piet defended strategy, saying the furore meant the “advertising target has already been achieved.”

Dutch police have already held protests surrounding the Hague and are refusing to give out traffic fines.

They are demanding a 3.3 per cent pay rise and improved overtime as part of their talks over a new collective agreement.

The police union said on Wednesday: “It is high time the government comes ‘over the bridge’ with a decent CAO offer.

“It cannot be Dutch policy that we pay for the security of our society off the backs of police officers.”