Tour de France on COVID-19 'red alert' as teams gather for Nice start

Tour de France "Grand Depart" host city Nice scrambled to impose tighter health protocols on Thursday as the southern French region was reclassified as a COVID-19 red zone.

With the gathering contenders mulling the likely sprint finish on the Mediterranean city's celebrated seafront Promenade des Anglais, it was announced only a few dozen fans could get to see the race start on Saturday.

Authorities in the chic seaside town decided Thursday's team parade and fan park could only host 1,000 spectators.