The climate activist who attempted to glue himself to a cobbled road during Wednesday’s Ronde van Brugge, causing a crash in the peloton, has been arrested and accused of intentional assault and battery and causing malicious obstruction of traffic.
The Belgian cycling federation and a number of teams have also commenced legal action against Wouter Mouton, an Extinction Rebellion member who has staged protests at various sporting and cultural events, including the Tour of Flanders, while the race’s organisers stated that Mouton’s actions have “no place” in cycling.
The incident occurred on a cobbled section of road with 30 kilometres remaining of the Ronde van Brugge one-day race. Mouton, a well-known pro-Palestine and environmental activist, was seen sitting in the middle of the road wearing a cycling helmet and white t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Kids dying by the climate crisis in 3, 2, 1…”
According to the race’s organisers Golazo, Mouton had intended to glue himself to the cobblestones as the peloton approached – in a similar manner to the Scottish climate activists who briefly halted the men’s road race at the 2023 Glasgow world championships – but failed to do so in time, and was ejected from the course by security, moments before the riders reached him.
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However, the chaos caused by Mouton’s brief protest prompted some riders to brake suddenly, causing a crash, with defending champion Juan Sebastian Molano one of those to hit the deck.
A spokesperson for Bruges police later confirmed that Mouton had been detained and that an investigation has been launched to ascertain “whether there is a connection between the crash and Wouter Mouton’s presence along the course”.
On Thursday, Het Nieuwsblad reported that the activist has been accused of causing malicious obstruction of traffic and of intentional assault and battery. He is currently being held in a cell.
Footage of the incident, as well as the testimony of witnesses, will be evaluated before the public prosecutor’s office will make a decision on the next steps, the police said. According to reports, however, the police have acknowledged that Mouton’s actions did in fact cause the crash.
Belgian Cycling also announced today that it is filing a legal complaint against the activist, the national governing body following the lead of the Ronde van Brugge organising team, who launched their own legal action yesterday.
“By sitting in the middle of the road in front of an oncoming peloton, he seriously endangers the riders,” Golazo’s Christophe Impens told Het Nieuwsblad.
“The fact that the damage from the crash appears limited is fortunate, but it does not change the reckless nature of this action, which has no place in cycling.”
A number of teams, including Astana, Decathlon, and Uno-X Mobility, are also preparing to take legal action against Mouton after their riders were impacted by the crash.
Speaking to Sporza, UAE Team Emirates sports director Fabio Baldato, whose leader Juan Sebastian Molano’s hopes of making it back-to-back victories were scuppered by the crash, said he hoped Mouton would be prevented from disrupting bike races in the future.
The protester ran across the road during the finale of the Tour of Flanders in 2022, while he has also defaced world-famous paintings, tied himself to a goal post during the Belgian FA Cup final, and sprayed the British Embassy in Brussels with red paint.
“Molano didn’t really understand what happened. Suddenly there was a motorbike stopped. Only later did we understand why,” Baldato said.
“The police came to take our statements after the race. Molano hit the ground hard and has pain in his back, and Julius Johansen also crashed. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.”
Asked whether UAE would join the teams pursuing legal action, Baldato said: “We will have to discuss that with management. But hopefully something can be done to prevent this man from causing problems again in the future.”
2 thoughts on ““No place in cycling”: Climate activist accused of intentional assault after trying to glue himself to cobbled road during race, causing crash”
Activist? Nope, a troublemaker who deserves a noble cause. He will go away with a slap on the wrist. It would be more relevant if he tried to stop a F1 race or Les 24 Heures du Mans.
Agreed, however cycling is complicit in allowing uae, bahrain and alula to compete. It’s always a fine line between activist and troublemaker though.