Environmentalists to stage 'face-mask' protest against Team Ineos's Jim Ratcliffe at Tour de Yorkshire
The Tour de Yorkshire will be the first outing for the rebranded Team Ineos squad
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Environmental campaigners are set to hand out face masks of Jim Ratcliffe, the new owner of Team Sky, at the Tour de Yorkshire in protest at his petrochemical company Ineos taking over as the title sponsor of the British cycling team.
Team Sky are set to use the Tour de Yorkshire as the moment when they change into Team Ineos after the team sealed a new sponsorship deal worth £120 million over three years with Britain's richest man.
The protest, led by the Frack Free United environmentalist group, centres around Ineos' involvement with fracking in the UK, and accusations have been levelled at the petrochemical giant that their sponsorship of the team is an attempt at "greenwashing" their company.
The face masks will have Jim Ratcliffe's face on the front, with details about INEOS and their involvement in gas and oil exploration and production on the back, according to Sportsmail (opens in new tab).
Team Sky were wrapped up in controversy last year, with a 2018 parliamentary report finding the team "crossed an ethical line" with their use of the corticosteroid triamcinolone. The team denied any wrongdoing.
The team have also been accused of hypocrisy by environmentalists, as they have previously supported the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign before joining up with one of the world's largest chemical producers.
Chris Froome is currently leading Team Sky in the Tour of the Alps, the final race before their name change.
Whilst the Tour de Yorkshire, which begins on May 2, is set to be Team Ineos' official debut, their first race will actually be the Tour de Romandie, starting two days earlier on April 30.
The team will wear a temporary kit at the Tour de Romandie before the official gear is unveiled in Doncaster for stage one in Yorkshire.
Sky announced it would end its sponsorship of the team last December after 10 years in the sport.
Team boss Dave Brailsford was tasked with finding a new sponsor before the 2019 Tour de France in July, having talks with sponsors in Colombia before Ineos stepped in to save the team.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
From false promises and heartbreak to hope - How Heidi Franz is bouncing back from the last-minute collapse of B&B Hotels
Mind games, false promises and a life left in limbo. How American Heidi Franz navigated the B&B Hotels demise and found a kickstart to her new European life
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Volta a la Communitat Valenciana: Biniam Girmay takes stage one sprint
It's another one in the bag for Intermarché-Circus-Wanty after Challenge Mallorca success
By James Shrubsall • Published
-
Egan Bernal has nose operation to help 'air passage' ahead of 2023
Procedure not thought to be connected to the life-threatening crash which affected Colombian last year
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tweets of the week: Ineos Grenadiers' three wise men, team jersey déjà vu and World Cup celebrations by bike
Here's our social media round-up, featuring a cycling all-star nativity
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign their first female rider
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot reported to be joining new Ineos mountain bike team, alongside Tom Pidcock
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Remco Evenepoel transfer to Ineos Grenadiers is ‘too stupid for words’ says Patrick Lefevere
Lefevere revealed he has been laughing at speculation around the new world champion
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign unknown 18-year-old Michael Leonard
Canadian is the latest young rider to join the British squad
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign 18 year-old time trial and track talent Josh Tarling
The 18-year-old is a two-time Welsh national track champion, and finished second in the 2021 junior worlds time trial
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Ineos set to launch new Kenyan cycling academy with Eliud Kipchoge - the first man to run a marathon under two hours
The multinational chemicals company will work in partnership with Ineos Grenadiers and Eliud Kipchoge
By Ryan Dabbs • Last updated
-
Have you heard the one about why Australian track riders dye their hair blonde? Ineos Grenadiers's Luke Plapp reveals all as he seeks world track and road glory
The Ineos Grenadiers youngster is expected to be one of the peloton's strongest time triallists in the ensuing seasons
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published