Israel-Premier Tech held up by protestors in Vuelta team time trial

Police outriders cleared a path through the protest, which was composed of six people bearing Palestinian flags and a banner. The Israel Premier Tech octet was forced to slow before resuming their effort.

Stage 5 marked the first stage of the Vuelta on Spanish roads. On the eve of the stage, the Izquierda Unida party called on the Spanish government to ask the Vuelta organisation to exclude Israel Premier Tech from the race due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. 

According to Gaza health authorities and the United Nations, more than 58,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 700 people.

Last week, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared that an “entirely man-made” famine is taking place in Gaza due to the Israel government’s refusal to allow sufficient humanitarian aid into the region.

“High-level sport held in Spanish territory must be fully consistent with the State's commitments to human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as with the principles of non-discrimination, integrity, and social responsibility,” read the statement from Izquierda Unida.

The IU statement continued to describe the team, which is owned by a private backer the Canadian-Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, as a “vehicle for institutional sportswashing.”

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo ahead of the Vuelta, race director Javier Guillen explained that it was not in his gift to exclude Israel Premier Tech, pointing out that they were present at the Vuelta as a UCI WorldTour team and not by invitation.

“We are aware that there is controversy surrounding the Israel team because there is a movement calling for them not to participate in the race, but we cannot expel then from the Vuelta,” Guillen said. “It is impossible, and they are in the race in their own right.”

The protest at the Vuelta on Wednesday follows similar demonstrations at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. A man wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘Israel out of the Tour’ was arrested after running into the finish straight in Toulouse during the finale of stage 11 of the Tour.

Former Israel-Premier Tech rider Alessandro De Marchi recently told the Observer that he would not sign for the team now. “I would have really struggled to be there now and been in great difficulty,” he said. “I won’t criticise anyone riding there because everyone is free to decide, but right now I wouldn’t sign a contract with Israel. I wouldn’t be able to manage the feelings I have, to be able to be involved in something like that.”