The recent attack in Nice occured around 300 kilometers from where this stage of the Tour de France took place. Although event organisers decided the leg should still go ahead despite calls for it to be postponed, the tragedy was very much the focal point for the media.

"In the event of a terrorist attack on the French National Day, we are three hundred kilometers from Nice. The attack killed more than and 80 people. This is a sad day for many families. I was shocked by this. The whole of Europe, not only France, is facing the threat of terrorist attacks. So it is imperative to strengthen security," said Carlos Arribas, Spanish journalist.

"It is a lot of bombs from the Iraq war. In a few matches, someone killed your family...Violence caused more violence..." said Shane Stokes, Irish journalist.