Vuelta organisation denies report that Madrid finale is in doubt amid pro-Palestine protests
On Sunday evening, the Vuelta a España organisation denied a report in L'Equipe suggesting the race could finish a day early due to the prospect of human rights demonstrations on the final stage in Mardid.
The Vuelta a España continues amid ongoing disruption from pro-Palestinian protests, with the organisers denying a report by L’Équipe that they were considering ending the race a day early.
An article published on the L’Équipe website on Sunday evening, since removed, suggested that there had been discussions in the peloton and the paddock that the race would end at Bola del Mundo on Saturday, rather than continuing to Madrid the following day, where larger protests are anticipated.
“We would like to clarify that the organisation of La Vuelta denies the reports suggesting a possible suspension of stage 21,” read a statement from the organisation on Sunday evening.
Demonstrations have accompanied the race since its arrival on Spanish roads after the Turin départ. Israel-Premier Tech has been the target of the actions, with protestors calling for their removal from the event. Activists have waved Palestinian flags along the route, disrupted stage starts and finishes, and hacked the Radio Vuelta frequency to broadcast messages of solidarity with Gaza.
On Sunday’s stage to Monforte de Lemos, the unrest produced a new incident when Movistar’s Javier Romo crashed after a Guardia Civil officer moved across the road to stop a protestor carrying a Palestinian flag. Romo remounted quickly and was able to finish the stage with the peloton, shaken but not seriously injured.
Organisers are understood to prefer that Israel-Premier Tech withdraw voluntarily, but the team has resisted that suggestion. The squad has, however, removed the word “Israel” from its jerseys in an attempt to calm tensions, though the protests have shown little sign of abating.
