Protests in Favor of Palestine Disrupt Vuelta, Resulting in No Race Winner
In the ongoing Vuelta a España, the 11th stage was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests in Bilbao. The demonstrators, waving Palestinian flags, halted the race three kilometers from the finish, causing a significant impact on the competition.
The Israel-Premier Tech team was targeted during the team time trial on the fifth stage, and in the preceding days, they had faced similar protests. The Israeli team had also encountered protests due to the Middle East conflict during the Tour de France.
Elia Viviani, the former Italian European champion, stated that the organizers have done everything they could in the last weeks to ensure safety. He added that if a situation arises that is dangerous for the peloton, they should take action.
A discussion between the riders' union CPA, the race organizers, and representatives of the UCI took place before the 11th stage. The identity of the person involved in these discussions is not provided in the available search results.
The Israeli team's troubles continued as their rider Simone Petilli crashed due to protests on Tuesday. The peloton was briefly stopped by protesters in the neutral zone before police cleared the road.
Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish rider, expressed his disappointment as a third stage win was not granted to him due to the incidents. At the time of the race's conclusion, Vingegaard and British rider Tom Pidcock had a lead of around ten seconds. Times were taken at that point, allowing Vingegaard to extend his lead.
Despite the disruptions, the cyclists rolled towards the Bilbao finish at a slow pace upon reaching the three-kilometer mark. The incidents have added an unexpected twist to the Vuelta a España, making the race even more unpredictable.
