This Is Rigged eco-demonstrators glue to the road to disrupt Scotland’s elite men’s cycling race over sponsorship from petrol companies
- Eco-demonstrators clung to a road as cyclists race across Scotland
- Climate activist group This Is Rigged has claimed responsibility for the major disruption
- Cyclists would ride from Edinburgh to Glasgow in a grueling 168-mile race
The group that painted the Scottish Parliament building red has claimed responsibility for disrupting the Men’s Elite Race at the Road World Championships by sticking to the road.
Climate activism group This Is Rigged said four of its members halted the race for 50 minutes, preventing cyclists from sustaining the 170-mile race.
The race was ‘neutralized’ by officials after cyclists managed to complete just 49 miles through the race.
Cyclists expected to race from Edinburgh to Glasgow, across Fife, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling and East Dunbartonshire in a grueling race expected to last around three hours.
The eco-warriors said they were protesting oil company sponsorship and added a Tweet:
“The fact that (British chemical company) INEOS has been allowed to sponsor a team in the race around the Campsie Fells – which were engulfed by bushfires last month – is an embarrassment and an insult to both the cycling community and the people of Scotland. ‘
The eco-demonstrators managed to disrupt the elite-level race for nearly an hour after several members glued themselves to the road
Scottish police confirmed five people had been removed and arrested following the disruptive stunt
The anti-oil group said it was protesting the involvement of oil companies in the prestigious race
The group added: “We cannot continue business as usual while our country is on fire and our future is ruined. Time is of the essence and we must act accordingly.
“(The Scottish Government) must stand up to Westminster and oppose all new oil and gas, and make a fair transition now.”
Scotland Police confirmed that its officers succeeded in removing and arresting five protesters, with video shared on social media revealing officers chiseling protesters’ hands off the road.
The UCI, the body that organizes cycling championships around the world, said it is working “closely with all relevant authorities to minimize disruption to the race and also to ensure rider safety as our main concern.”
The group’s chairman, David Lappartient, was seen chatting to frustrated cyclists at the front of the race.
Group chairman David Lappartient was seen chatting to frustrated cyclists at the front of the race
Cyclists expected to be able to race the 168 miles without interruption
The cyclists were stopped less than 50 miles from the start line, severely interrupting the important race
This Is Rigged made headlines earlier this week after several members spray-painted part of Scotland’s parliament building red in protest at the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans for 100 new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.
The group said at the time: ‘The silence (from the Scottish Government) about new oil and gas is deafening. They have to vocally oppose all the new oil and gas, or they’re complicit.”
The website says the only two demands are that the Scottish government oppose any new fossil fuel projects in the country, and that it create a ‘clear and fully funded’ transition for oil and gas workers.
This was the group’s second time painting Holyrood red, with two people, 23 and 26, arrested in April for a similar act.