French wine union & producers may sabotage the Tour de France

Wine producers in the Languedoc are angry with Tour de France organisers at the choice of Cono Sur’s ‘Bicicleta’ brand as a sponsor of the event and have warned they will interrupt the race when it passes through the region.

Stage 11 of this year’s tour will pass between Carcassonne and Montpellier, and will go through the heart of the Aude department.

The Chilean label, owned by Concha y Toro, began its partnership with the race in 2014 when it sponsored the ‘Grand Départ’ held in Yorkshire and then renewed its partnership last year through to 2017.

The Aude’s winemaking union, the Syndicat des Vignerons de l’Aude, claim they have only just learned of the deal and the union’s president, Frédéric Rouanet, said they felt humiliated. He said the region's wines should be associated with the Tour which is part of their cultural and sporting heritage.

He hinted that if the race goes ahead without a change to the wine sponsor then the union will attempt to “block” the race as it passes through the Aude this July and he called on other unions to do likewise.

Due to France’s Evin Law any wine sponsor, whether French or foreign, is not allowed to openly market its products in association with an event such as the Tour.

So far, Cono Sur’s partnership has solely been with the Tour on its foreign stages and at no point will Cono Sur be advertised in relation to the Tour when in France.