‘Just let the riders race’ - Van Asbroeck criticises Vuelta organisers over protest handling

Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel-Premier Tech) isn’t part of the Vuelta peloton, but the Belgian rider condemned the hostile environment his team are currently facing during the Vuelta a España, whilst acknowledging he understands concerns about the situation in Gaza, pleading for peaceful protests. 

"Some riders are more sensitive to the protests than others who are more down-to-earth, but I understand the unrest," said Van Asbroeck to Het Nieuwsblad. "I can completely understand the protests when you see what's happening in Gaza. I respect freedom of speech and the protests, but please do so peacefully."

"In the Vuelta, you see aggression and intimidation against our team, which is not in line with the pursuit of peace," he said. "There's clearly a misunderstanding about our team, which is privately sponsored and not by the state of Israel. The disrupters in the Vuelta are not cycling enthusiasts. I'm a rider who gets paid to race and has nothing to do with the fighting in Gaza."

Israel-Premier Tech’s participation in the race has been the focus of protests throughout the Vuelta due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. Over 64,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza almost two years ago in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 700 people.

Protestors attempted to block the road during the team time trial on stage 5, displaying Palestinian flags and a banner reading "Neutrality is Complicity. Boycott Israel." The race was later halted during stage 11 when demonstrators occupied the finishing straight in Bilbao, and also on stage 16. The EFE news agency has reported that 450 police officers will be deployed along the route of the stage 18 Valladolid time trial on Thursday as a precaution.

The team subsequently removed the word "Israel" from their kit for the remainder of the race, though team owner Sylvan Adams has firmly denied reports they would permanently change their name. "Fake news. We will never ride without the name Israel," Adams told Israeli website Sport5.

Van Asbroeck questioned the race organiser's handling of the situation, suggesting they deserved "a yellow card for suggesting that our team should abandon their race."

Technical director of the Vuelta, Kiko García had previously suggested that the only way to protect the safety of the riders for the remainder of the event would be if the Israel-Premier Tech team withdrew from the race.

"That would be a complete disaster. What do you do with the UAE and Bahrain, where human rights are a bone of contention? Just let the riders race," Van Asbroeck said.

Van Asbroeck also offered thoughts on cycling's evolving sponsorship landscape, noting that teams increasingly rely on backers like those behind Premier Tech, Bahrain, and UAE.

"Otherwise, it becomes increasingly difficult to survive," he explained, reflecting on how the sport has changed during his career.