Eighty farmers from Rucphen and the surrounding area built a gigantic racing bike with their tractors on Sunday, as a protest against the government’s nitrogen plans. The bike can be seen from the air during the passage of the riders of the Vuelta.
The farmers do not want to disrupt the stage, but do want to show their message, because they fear that the plans will mean the end for their companies. “We want to make our voice heard all over the world today,” says farmer Bart van Kalmthout from Schijf.
Hay bales form the words: ‘We hope to keep feeding you’. The moving tractors form the rotating wheels of the bicycle. Children also participate in the fun action, they ride on smaller tractors and portray the chain of the bicycle.
“It is great that we as farmers from the municipality of Rucphen can achieve this together.”
The protest bike was already shown on TV, at Eurosport, Europe’s largest commercial broadcaster that focuses on sports. “That’s a good sign,” says farmer Bart. “It is great that we as farmers from the municipality of Rucphen can achieve this together.”
In 2011, there was a similar farmer action during the Tour de France. The Rucphense farmers were inspired by that, or as they say themselves: “We just stole the idea.”
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