Athletes again pay the price for outrageous disruption as a bizarre protest group causes chaos at the UCI Road World Championships

Once again, protesters have taken it upon themselves to disrupt a major sporting event in the UK.

Members of a group called This Is Rigged caused chaos at the UCI Road World Championships by gluing to the ground on part of the elite men’s road race course.

Scotland Police said five arrests had been made after warning of a protest in the Carron Valley area.

To say this whole situation was bizarre – and potentially dangerous – is an understatement. What were these nincompoops thinking?

I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but cycling, especially sports, is the last place you’d expect an eco-warrior outcry. In fact, one of the core messages of this entire championship has revolved around sustainability and the bike’s eco-friendly nature.

Riders had to stop the race after members of a group called This Is Rigged glued themselves to the ground on part of the route

And yet here we were again, held captive by a group of campaigners so desperate for attention, they chose one of the most environmentally friendly sports to make a point.

What is crucial here for the protesters is publicity. It is the knowledge that by creating chaos they will be seen by millions of people around the world. Little care would have been given to the riders who would have spent months preparing for the race.

Little attention would have been paid to the safety of the participants – as well as the physiological impact that having to quit would have on athletes with peak levels of lactic acid and adrenaline coursing through their veins.

Bewildered riders watched helplessly as officials raced around trying to understand what had happened. A police van made its way through the participants as authorities tried to deal with the situation.

As the minutes ticked down, smiles turned to grimaces as riders waited for news of a restart. Fifty minutes later they were finally on their way. The campaign group, meanwhile, went on a rampage on social media, claiming they had “neutralized” the elite road racer.

They claimed they were ‘forced to act’ after the Scottish government continued to ignore their demands to vocally oppose all new oil and gas licenses, and to put in place a clear and fully funded plan for a fair transition for the Scottish oil workers.

It wasn’t the first time they’d tried to cause a nuisance. They had already occupied several major fuel suppliers and daubed the Scottish Parliament with red paint.

However, their move into sports mirrors a tactic successfully used by Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising.

Bewildered riders watched helplessly as officials raced around trying to understand what had happened

The race eventually got going again when police made five arrests during the race

Some riders took the unscheduled break to get off their bikes and refuel

Who could forget the feeling of outrage when a protester jumped on a table at the World Snooker Championship and covered it in orange powder? Or when England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried off a protester at the second Ashes Test at Lord’s? The English Premier League was also targeted: a student tied himself to the goal post during a match between Everton and Newcastle.

Then there was the Grand National at Aintree – which was held up for nearly 15 minutes as protesters attempted to enter the racecourse. The move was widely condemned – with Scottish trainer Sandy Thomson blaming the delay for the death of his beloved horse, Hill Sixteen. Nor was the Scottish Grand National immune as protesters broke through the periphery of the track in Ayr.

When I was on Wimbledon Center Court last month for Andy Murray’s opening match against Ryan Peniston, I was struck by the efficiency of the security team there. They were held firmly in place by men and women in military uniform and a well-pierced system to prevent anyone from entering the court unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, it didn’t stop the outdoor courts from being targeted, with orange confetti and puzzle pieces sprayed onto the courts by two separate protesters.

The group’s transition into sports mimics Just Stop Oil’s attempt to disrupt the World Snooker Championship

Who could forget the outcry when England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow led off a protester at the second Ashes Test at Lord’s

At the time, Interior Minister Suella Braverman denounced the protesters’ actions, saying she had chaired a meeting with representatives from various sports organizations to try to prevent further disruptions.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, meanwhile, said: “We must protect the right to peaceful protest, but that doesn’t give a vocal minority license to ruin events that millions of us enjoy.”

Looking at social media last night, most of us seem to agree.

No doubt there will be those who will appeal to the UCI and race organizers to allow the protest to take place, but that would be both crass and unnecessary.

Given that so many other UK sporting events have been successfully targeted, there was always the risk of something similar happening in Scotland. However, there is no doubt that the fact that it happened on a 271km route made it extremely difficult to avoid.

With days to go in the championship, fears will mount that more of these incidents will occur

With days to go in the championship, fears will mount that more of these incidents will occur. If they do, they will not harm the oil and gas industry.

They will not harm those who benefit from huge profits at the pump. They will not change global warming. What they will do is possibly ruin the dreams of individuals who have struggled all their lives for a moment in history.

What they will do is cause fear. What they will do is turn public opinion against the protesters, so that those who might be sympathetic question their motives.

Everyone has the right to protest. It just feels wrong – and rather ugly – that individual athletes are consistently dragged into a war not made by them.