Source: Scotsman (UK) Contact: http://www.scotsman.com/ Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 Author: John Innes RIDERS HALT TOUR IN PROTEST AT POLICE DRUG RAID THE scandal-hit Tour de France sank into further chaos yesterday, when the riders stopped the prestigious cycle race to protest against police raids on team hotels, staged as part of a crackdown on drug-taking. When they finally agreed to continue, after 30 minutes, they did so without wearing their race numbers, which led to the 93-mile stage - the 17th, from Albertville to Aix-les-Bains - being declared void. Marco Pantani of Italy, the overall leader, was one of the first riders to remove his number, ripping it from the famous yellow jersey. He said: "This action is being taken because of the persecution of the TVM team. The riders are fed up." Despite the protests, police last night searched the hotel of the Francaise des Jeux team, and riot police were deployed around the hotel where the Polti and Casino teams were spending the night in Chambery. The director of the Casino team, Vincent Lavenu, was taken away for questioning. Earlier, crowds booed the riders as they coasted along the course, but they were greeted by warm applause as they finished en masse. Four riders from the TVM team finished together ahead of the rest, who had agreed that the Dutch team should lead the way. The Tour has been rocked since its start by doping scandals involving the Festina team, who were kicked out of the race on doping charges, and TVM. It is scheduled to finish in Paris on Sunday. - --- Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)