Fans sported signs and banners to “Brazil is For Brazil,” but the entire country turned yellow for the Tour de France and many didn’t support the country’s lead man. In rural areas of southeastern Brazil, yellow jersey winner Richie Porte has won friends and the admiration of local fans.
Rural rallies and rainbow-hued fans are rare but organized by Blanco Orala @richieporte and part of anti @Tour de France inequality campaign. pic.twitter.com/H0xo8f6aGp — Abrazo Como Argentina (@TheAFA_ComoArgentina) August 3, 2016
However, some Brazilians are going to extremes to protest the yellow jersey. While the riders will race to the beachside town of Praia do Trento on Thursday, they’ll meet protestors that threaten to turn Wednesday’s road race into a protest against the yellow jersey.
Fans jeered Porte with signs reading “thieves” and “kid, go home.” Furious, the frontman on Australian pop group Portals went on a rant that threatened to turn the rally into a political one.