Climate activist faces investigation after disrupting Tour of Bruges

26 March 2026

The Bruges branch of the West Flanders public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into an incident involving a climate activist during the Tour of Bruges cycling race. Both race organiser Golazo and the Belgian Cycling Federation have filed an official complaint.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, around 30 kilometres from the finish. Climate activist Wouter Mouton, 48, sat down on the cobblestones and intended to glue himself to the road. He was removed shortly before the peloton arrived.

Several riders subsequently crashed, including Colombian cyclist Juan Sebastian Molano, last year’s Tour of Bruges winner. Italian rider Vincenzo Albanese broke his hand in the fall, while Slovakian rider Matthias Schwarzbacher suffered multiple grazes.

Mouton was arrested at the scene by local police. He is suspected of intentional assault and battery and malicious obstruction of traffic. The public prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest and has launched a criminal investigation.

Race organiser Golazo and the Belgian Cycling Federation have both filed official complaints against the activist. "Although the federation does not condemn the right to freedom of expression or the message itself, the safety of the peloton and spectators must never be jeopardised by actions of this kind," the Belgian Cycling Federation said in a statement.

Latest disruption

Mouton has previously come into contact with the law for disrupting sporting events. During the Tour of Flanders in 2022, he climbed over barriers and crossed the finish line behind sprinting riders Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. That same year, he interrupted the Belgian Cup final by tying himself to a goalpost.

Mouton gained international notoriety in October 2022 at the Mauritshuis. There, he glued himself to the famous painting 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'. A Dutch court later sentenced him to two months in prison, half of which was suspended.