UCI race leader forced to ‘invade’ Scots home hours before he clinched world title
UCI Cycling World Championships winner Mathieu Van der Poel was yesterday forced to invade a stranger’s home mid-race – to take a number two.
The 28-year-old Dutchman was caught short after the rally was flung into chaos as five eco-yobs stormed the track amid an hour long protest.
National Coach Koos Moerenhout admitted the Men’s Elite victor raced to the bog of a nearby resident during the commotion outside Falkirk on the 271km Edinburgh to Glasgow route.
Van der Poel triumphantly crossed the city’s George Square finishing line ahead of rivals including Tadej Pogacar and Mads Petersen.
Commenting on the protest, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our Protest Removal Team has safely removed and arrested five protestors.”
Footage on the BBC shows a police van making its way slowly through the peloton as they try to reach the disruption.
A spokesperson for the UCI Cycling World Championships said: “Further to Police Scotland’s confirmation of a protest in the Carron Valley area, which has temporarily interrupted the Men’s Road Race.
We are working closely with all relevant authorities to minimise disruption to the race and also to ensure the safety of riders as our paramount concern.”
A message appeared during BBC Scotland’s coverage of the event reading: “Men’s road race temporarily interrupted by protesters”.
It comes as we exclusively revealed fears that eco-yob group Just Stop Oil would target the major event.
It comes after the road race circuit was branded dizzying, dangerous and ‘designed by a drunk person’ by riders who tested it before today’s World Championship event.
The city streets have been lined with barriers to create a 14.3km circuit marking the end of final stage of the 271km epic, which begins in Edinburgh.
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