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| Tyre sabotage brings race to halt | Tyre sabotage brings race to halt |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A major cycle race in Perthshire was halted after protesters allegedly spread carpet tacks across the roads. | A major cycle race in Perthshire was halted after protesters allegedly spread carpet tacks across the roads. |
| More than 3,500 people were taking part in the Etape Caledonia, over 81 miles in the countryside around Pitlochry. | More than 3,500 people were taking part in the Etape Caledonia, over 81 miles in the countryside around Pitlochry. |
| It is the only cycle event in Britain where all the roads travelled on are closed - which has angered some locals. | It is the only cycle event in Britain where all the roads travelled on are closed - which has angered some locals. |
| Hundreds of tacks were strewn on a section of the race, bursting tyres. Police said it as a reckless act and it was fortunate no-one was hurt. | Hundreds of tacks were strewn on a section of the race, bursting tyres. Police said it as a reckless act and it was fortunate no-one was hurt. |
| Cyclists ended up with damaged tyres and the event had to be stopped but organisers cleared the road and the race was completed. | |
| The winner Veli-Matti Raikkonen - who is originally from Finland and is a member of Aberdeen's Granite City racing team - was one of those who suffered a puncture after riding over the tacks. | The winner Veli-Matti Raikkonen - who is originally from Finland and is a member of Aberdeen's Granite City racing team - was one of those who suffered a puncture after riding over the tacks. |
| It is really not acceptable that this kind of behaviour is allowed to happen Etape Caledonia spokeswoman | It is really not acceptable that this kind of behaviour is allowed to happen Etape Caledonia spokeswoman |
| A spokeswoman for the race, which raises cash for Macmillan Cancer Support, said organisers were now working with police to discover what had happened. | A spokeswoman for the race, which raises cash for Macmillan Cancer Support, said organisers were now working with police to discover what had happened. |
| She said: "The obstruction is a safety matter and it is one the organisers take very seriously. They are working with the police to identify the source of the damage." | She said: "The obstruction is a safety matter and it is one the organisers take very seriously. They are working with the police to identify the source of the damage." |
| She added: "It is really not acceptable that this kind of behaviour is allowed to happen. | She added: "It is really not acceptable that this kind of behaviour is allowed to happen. |
| "The organisers identified the area, stopped the cyclists who were coming up to it to minimise the number who were affected, and they also dealt with the punctures very, very quickly." | "The organisers identified the area, stopped the cyclists who were coming up to it to minimise the number who were affected, and they also dealt with the punctures very, very quickly." |
| A spokesman for Tayside Police said: "It was fortunate no-one was injured as a result of irresponsible behaviour. Uniformed and detective officers are carrying out inquiries in the area and are following a positive line of inquiry." | A spokesman for Tayside Police said: "It was fortunate no-one was injured as a result of irresponsible behaviour. Uniformed and detective officers are carrying out inquiries in the area and are following a positive line of inquiry." |
| The event has developed into the Perthshire Cycling Festival, but has brought protests over the disruption caused by the three-hour Etape Caledonia. | The event has developed into the Perthshire Cycling Festival, but has brought protests over the disruption caused by the three-hour Etape Caledonia. |
| 'Disgusting act' | 'Disgusting act' |
| Organiser Kathy James, who runs a bed and breakfast in Aberfeldy, said the race brings millions of pounds to the area. | Organiser Kathy James, who runs a bed and breakfast in Aberfeldy, said the race brings millions of pounds to the area. |
| She told BBC Scotland: "What they've done is they've spread, from Rannoch down to us, tiny, tiny carpet tacks - I've got one - they've just spread the road with them. | She told BBC Scotland: "What they've done is they've spread, from Rannoch down to us, tiny, tiny carpet tacks - I've got one - they've just spread the road with them. |
| "There's a chap outside who came off his bike, there's been a lot of people coming off their bikes and basically they had to stop the race further up. | "There's a chap outside who came off his bike, there's been a lot of people coming off their bikes and basically they had to stop the race further up. |
| "This area relies on tourism, it disgusts me as a local, I just think there's no logic behind it." | "This area relies on tourism, it disgusts me as a local, I just think there's no logic behind it." |
| Alun Pugh, a former member of the Welsh Assembly, travelled up for the race. | Alun Pugh, a former member of the Welsh Assembly, travelled up for the race. |
| He said: "It's just really, really sad because this is the biggest cycling event for amateur mass participation cyclists in the whole of the UK. | He said: "It's just really, really sad because this is the biggest cycling event for amateur mass participation cyclists in the whole of the UK. |
| "It very, very disappointing indeed that a small number of people have chosen to disrupt and wreck it." | "It very, very disappointing indeed that a small number of people have chosen to disrupt and wreck it." |
| Macmillan Cancer Support estimates that today's event will raise £225,000 to help fund its work. | Macmillan Cancer Support estimates that today's event will raise £225,000 to help fund its work. |
| Were you at the race? Do you have pictures or video of the disruption? Send them to the BBC Scotland news website. | Were you at the race? Do you have pictures or video of the disruption? Send them to the BBC Scotland news website. |
| Click here to send an e-mail. | Click here to send an e-mail. |
| Send your pictures to newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |