Glasgow 2014: Sri Lankan athletes cycle down M74

Two Sri Lankan athletes as they cycle down the M74 motorway. Picture: Jonny Brownlee/PA

A GROUP of four Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games athletes sparked a police response after they were spotted cycling down the M74, one of Scotland’s busiest stretches of motorway.

British triathlete Jonny Brownlee was among those amazed to see the intrepid cyclists riding alongside traffic this morning.

He posted a picture of them dressed in their bright kit on Twitter with the message: “Just seen the Sri Lankan cycling team on the M74. Suppose it is a nice wide road!!”

His brother Alistair also captured the bizarre sight. “The Sri Lankan cycling team cruising down the M74, lovely spot for a bike ride,” he tweeted.

The Sri Lankans’ journey was brought to an end near the exit for Motherwell and Hamilton when police intervened and informed them they were breaking the law.

The junction is close to Strathclyde Park, which hosts the triathlon events on Thursday and Sunday.

Police Scotland confirmed they had been called to a report of four cyclists on the M74 at Junction 6 at around 11.55am today.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “Police attended. Advice and assistance was given.”

The spokeswoman confirmed they were from the Sri Lankan team and said the cycles were loaded on to a team vehicle and they left the area.

A similar episode occurred during the Manchester Games in 2002 when two Kenya cyclists travelled 17 miles down the M61 before being pulled over by police near Bolton.