Protesting tumult at Vuelta: No victor due to Palestinian advocacy demonstrations
Protest halts 11th stage of Vuelta a España in Bilbao
The 80th edition of the Vuelta a España was disrupted on Saturday, as Palestinian protests caused the 11th stage to be halted without a winner. The Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech, faced similar protests at the Tour de France due to the Middle East conflict.
As the riders approached the Bilbao finish at a slow pace on the third kilometer, a tense situation arose due to security personnel struggling to keep demonstrators off the course. Many police officers were on duty for the stage, but demonstrators waving Palestinian flags managed to disrupt the race.
Elia Viviani, the former Italian European champion and representative of the riders' association CPA, spoke with the organizers before the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España. Viviani mentioned that they, the riders, would take action if a dangerous situation arose for the peloton.
At the time of the race's suspension, British rider Tom Pidcock and Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard had a lead of approximately ten seconds. Times were taken at the point of suspension, allowing Vingegaard to extend his lead in the general classification. However, Vingegaard did not secure his third stage win due to the incident.
Viviani stated that the organizers have done everything possible in the last few weeks to ensure safety. If the situation remains peaceful, the race will continue normally, he added.
The riders met with organizers and UCI representatives before the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España. The incident in Bilbao is not the first time the race has been disrupted by protests, but it is a reminder of the challenges that come with hosting a major sporting event in today's world.
Elia Viviani, former European champion, spoke to Cyclingnews about the meeting, but further details about the discussions were not disclosed. The race resumed after a delay, and the outcome of the 11th stage is yet to be determined.
