Dublin city-centre businesses say they will lose £5 million this weekend due to disruption caused by the Tour de France. However, the tour organisers disagree and say that the overall benefits will far outweigh any disruption.

"Businesses in the city centre are not at all pleased with the logistics over the weekend, especially Saturday. It has landlocked or imprisoned the entire city centre for the day from vehicle traffic," said Mr Declan Martin, economic director of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

"There are all sorts of logistical problems with deliveries, fresh food, people getting into work. There is only access prior to 8 a.m. in the morning." Tour organisers are assuring businesses that trading will continue.

"We've worked very hard to minimalise the difficulties. We want people to come into Dublin and park at the many carkparks and enjoy the day with their children. We think there will be thousands of people in the streets.

"It's up to the shops to promote themselves. You go shopping if people open the shops," said Mr Alan Rushton, director of Irish Tour organiser L'Evenement.