World Cycling Championships road race in Scotland interrupted by protesters

The group known as “This Is Rigged,” consisting of oil and gas activists, proudly asserts their role in disrupting the 271km UCI Cycling World Championships men’s road race in Scotland. Their actions led to an unexpected halt for nearly an hour on the approach to the Crow Road, near Glasgow.

Around 190km into the race, the UCI issued a statement in response to confirmation from Police Scotland regarding a protest in the Carron Valley area. The protest temporarily interrupted the men’s road race, prompting the UCI to collaborate closely with relevant authorities to minimize race disruption and prioritize rider safety.

Reports indicated that demonstrators affixed themselves to the road, intentionally allowing passage for cyclists while preventing the convoy of vehicles, including support cars and ambulances, from proceeding. Law enforcement detained five protesters, according to Police Scotland.

Shortly thereafter, This Is Rigged took to social media, expressing their discontent. They criticized Ineos’ sponsorship of a team participating in the race around the Campsie Fells, an area recently affected by wildfires. The group deemed this sponsorship an affront to both the cycling community and the people of Scotland.

Notably, the UCI Cycling World Championships are organized on a national federation basis, and the Ineos Grenadiers-sponsored team is not officially competing. Although some team members ride under their national flags, a spokesperson for the group emphasized that the protest’s scope extends beyond the realm of cycling.

The statement continued, underscoring the urgency of the situation: “We can no longer maintain business as usual while our country faces wildfires and our futures hang in the balance. Time is of the essence, and our actions must reflect that urgency. The Scottish government must stand firm against new oil and gas initiatives, advocating for a fair transition without delay.”

During the race, a nine-person breakaway group, including Britain’s Owain Doull and Ireland’s Rory Townsend, had managed to establish a significant lead of seven minutes over the main peloton. Officials neutralized the race, bringing it to a halt, and subsequently allowed the race to resume at 12:15 pm after the road was cleared. This interruption resulted in a delay of approximately 55 minutes, with the breakaway riders being granted a head start to regain their advantage.