Find out why Shropshire climate activists are cycling from London to Paris Olympics
Climate activists from Shropshire are cycling from London to the Paris Olympics to protest against Shell’s controversial sponsorship of British Cycling.
Mike Bastow and Sahrah Wilding from Oswestry set off from Trafalgar Square on a 250-mile cycle to the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome in Paris.
Their plan was to arrive in time for the track cycling competition where British cyclists are taking part.
Mr Bastow, a chemical engineer, said: "British Cycling’s decision to take dirty sponsorship money from Shell is a kick in the teeth for cyclists everywhere.
"Cycling is one of the most sustainable modes of transport, while Shell is a climate-wrecking corporation that has spent decades denying the science of the climate crisis and actively lobbying to stop governments from tackling it.
"The two do not belong together. There is no place in our sport for Shell, and British Cycling is trashing its reputation by taking sponsorship from them.
"I am certain many of the British team feel conflicted about wearing the Shell logo on their kit. Air pollution from fossil fuels kills five million people a year, while extreme heat kills 500,000 annually. This is blood money."
It’s not the first time that Extinction Rebellion activists have highlighted Shell’s controversial sponsorship of British Cycling.
In January 2023, activists staged a protest at the British National Track Championships in Newport, South Wales. In November, they targeted British Cycling’s AGM in Birmingham.
The protests led to an off-record meeting between British Cycling’s CEO Jon Dutton and activists. They were accompanied by leading UK climate scientist, and keen cyclist, Professor Kevin Anderson.
Ms Wilding, who is studying for a masters in sustainable food production, said: "Major institutions like the Science Museum are cutting their ties to fossil fuel sponsors because they know they can’t justify taking their money.
"Fossil fuel giants like Shell aren’t sponsoring British Cycling because they love the sport. They’re doing it to 'greenwash' their reputations and convince the public that they’re not the bad guys. But they are the bad guys!
"As one senior cycling official said, the sponsorship between British Cycling and Shell is like 'shaking hands with the devil'. National sports organisations need to decide whether they care more about profits or people.
"We’re cycling all the way from London to the Paris Olympics to call British Cycling out for making deals with climate criminals."