Chaos at Men’s Cycling Worlds as Eco Protestors Halt Race Near Glasgow
Race Stopped Cold by Glued-on Protestors
The men’s cycling world championships road race in Scotland came grinding to a halt on Sunday. Environmental activists from the group ‘This is Rigged’ blocked a quiet country road between Edinburgh and Glasgow, gluing themselves to the tarmac with 190km still to go. Police Scotland swooped, arresting five demonstrators during the disruption.
Protest Targets Ineos Sponsorship
The eco-warriors later revealed their target was the race’s sponsor Ineos—an oil and petrol company active in Scotland. To break the protest, police spread powder on the road, allowing race stewards to safely stop the peloton on a narrow lane near Carron Valley Reservoir, about 50km outside Glasgow.
David Lappartient, president of world cycling’s governing body UCI, was at the scene trying to calm nerves. With no rider earpieces, communication was tricky, making the stoppage unavoidable.
Stars Left Waiting—and Snapping Selfies
The breakaway group’s six-minute lead vanished as the protest forced the entire peloton to halt. Famous names like defending champ Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar, Wout Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Julian Alaphilippe were left twiddling thumbs, chatting, and even taking selfies during the 55-minute delay.
The UCI confirmed they are working closely with authorities to keep the race safe and minimise disruption. Once cleared, riders faced another 200km to the finish, including ten laps on a 14km circuit in central Glasgow.
Eco Activism Hits Cycling Again
Environmental protests frequently target major sporting events to spotlight the climate crisis. Cycling races are prime targets due to their open roads stretching for hundreds of kilometres, vulnerable to demonstrations like this.
‘This is Rigged’ has a history of high-profile actions, including throwing red paint on the Scottish Parliament and blocking oil refineries. Their message is clear: urgent action on climate change can’t wait.
