Tour de France riders sprayed with tear gas amid protest

Sports shorts

After fans had caused chaos in the Alps by setting off flares, tear gas from police accidentally played havoc with Tour de France riders during the first stage in the Pyrenees on Tuesday.

Four-time champion Chris Froome was among a large group of riders whose eyes needed treatment when police intervened to disperse farmers protesting funding cuts by disrupting cycling’s biggest race.

Bales of hay blocked the road 18.6 miles into the 218-kilometer stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Tour organizers said police used tear gas to move the protesters as the peloton approached.

Four-time champion Froome, race leader Geraint Thomas, and world champion Peter Sagan were among those affected. Froome was treated with eye drops and Sagan poured water over his face to clean his eyes.

Stage 16 resumed after a 15-minute delay.

MLB

SANCHEZ RETURNS TO DL » Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez was put back on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained right groin, a day after failing to hustle on a pair of key plays in a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay.

Sanchez missed 20 games from June 25 to July 19 because of the groin injury.

“We had an MRI yesterday, and it showed the same injury, same spot, same location,” Sanchez said through a translator. “So, re-aggravated the injury.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone had no firm timetable for Sanchez’s return.

“I think that will become more clear over the next few days,” Boone said. “I do think it will be at least a couple weeks.”

After Monday night’s game, Sanchez said that the groin issues were “definitely behind me” and that “it’s about doing a better job overall.”

YANKEES CLOSE TO DEAL FOR BRITTON » A person familiar with the talks tells The Associated Press the Yankees are close to agreement on a trade to acquire left-hander Zach Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects, a deal that would bolster New York’s bullpen for the stretch run.

The trade would send right-hander Dillon Tate to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and righthander Cody Carroll, the person said Tuesday night, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal would be subject to the teams approving medical records.

The 30-year-old Britton would serve as a setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman, joining David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren in an already strong bullpen.