Tour de France observes minute of silence for Nice attack victims

SPORTS

Tour de France observes minute of silence for Nice attack victims

The Associated Press Published Saturday, July 16, 2016 11:22AM EDT

Policemen stand to attention as Tour de France competitors observe a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of the Nice truck attack in La Caverne du Pont-d'Arc, France, Friday, July 15, 2016. (AP Photo / Christophe Ena)

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VILLARS-LES-DOMBES, France -- A minute of silence was observed at the start of the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday following the truck attack in Nice that claimed 84 lives.

Yellow jersey holder Chris Froome and the other leaders of the Tour took their helmets off and stood still at the start line to honour the victims.

It's the first of three days of national mourning in France and fans waved the country's flag all along the 208.5-kilometre route from Montelimar to Villars-Les-Dombes.

Four riders in a breakaway -- Martin Elmiger of Switzerland, Alex Howes of the United States, Jeremy Roy of France and Cesare Benedetti of Italy -- opened up an early advantage of 4 1/2 minutes.

The stage started 15 minutes early due to a strong headwind.