PARIS, Aug 4, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Around 500,000 people lined the streets of
Paris during the cycling road race, organisers said Sunday, in what is seen
as further evidence of growing popular support for the Games.

The road race on Saturday saw cyclists speed through some of the most
picturesque streets of the capital, including the famous Montmartre hill,
while the start and finish line was in front of the Eiffel Tower.

A photograph of thousands of supporters lining the sweeping Rue Lepic in
Montmartre has been compared on social media to a famous painting of popular
fervour in 1878 by watercolour master Claude Monet.

"I don't know if it is an Olympic record but there were 500,000 people along
the route," Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters at a daily
briefing on Sunday, citing figures from the Paris police department.

A strong start from France in the Games -- the host country lies third in the
medals table -- coupled with national pride in seeing Paris put on a show for
the rest of the world are seen as fuelling enthusiasm for the Olympics.

Le Monde newspaper reported Sunday on "the exuberant enthusiasm" on Paris's
streets, saying "since the opening ceremony, French people have had a desire
to share in it, far from the image of a divided society."

So-called "fan zones" around the city have also been regularly full, with
thousands of people cheering on new local heroes such as swimmer Leon
Marchand and veteran winners like judoka Teddy Riner.

Television viewing figures for the opening ceremony on July 26 showed that
23.2-23.4 million people tuned in to live coverage on the France 2 channel --
around a third of the country -- making it one of the most watched events in
French history.

The build up to the Games had been dominated by fears about security, with
the country on its highest alert level for terror attacks, as well as
grumbling about disruption to daily life in the French capital.

Many of the wealthiest areas of the city remain quiet, with residents heading
off for their traditional summer holidays rather than staying to watch the
sport.

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel survived a dramatic late puncture to win Saturday's
Olympic road race gold.