Faced with Propalestinian demonstrators, “stopping the Vuelta” permanently “is an option according to the vice-president of the International Coureurs Union

According to Pascal Chantur, the vice-president of the CPA (associated professional cyclists), the Spanish government does nothing to ensure the safety of runners on the Vuelta, in the face of Propaletinian demonstrations.

Steps shortened due to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the finish line, falls caused by the intrusion of demonstrators on the course … The runners of the Vuelta are “Under tension, nervous and they are afraid”according to Pascal Chantur, vice-president of their union, associated professional cyclists (CPA). To provide them with greater protection on the time trial of the 18th stage, Thursday, September 11 in Valladolid, the route was shortened at 12.2 kilometers, against 27.2 originally.

“The Israeli-Palestinian problem is extremely serious, it is dramaticrecognizes Pascal Singer, But the bicycle race is certainly not the place to demonstrate. The hostage of the runners is certainly not the right way to be able to assert a position, which, all in all, can be understood by the whole “.

Departing from the 17th stage on Wednesday, the runners had gathered to decide to neutralize the race if other incidents were to arise. “The runners have clearly said that they could no longer evolve in good conditions on this Vuelta. Their health, their integrity are endangered. If there were ever this kind of demonstrations, much more serious decisions could be made, such as stopping the Vuelta clearly and definitely”warns the former runner.

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The Jonas Vingegaard red jersey nevertheless said to understand the demonstrators, who “Do it for a reason”. “What is going on is currently horrible and I think those who demonstrate here do it because they need a way to be heard”had recognized the Danish. But these demonstrations caused the fall of Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Wanty) on the 10th stage, then that of Javier Romo (Movistar) on the 15th stage, and the latter had to abandon the Tour of Spain. “We are already talking about the safety of runners throughout the year. The public road is dangerous and it is done even more by people who are completely devoid of sensitivity of risk taking of runners and who endanger them”regrets Pascal Singer.

At the same time, Patxi Lopez, the spokesperson of the Spanish Socialist Party, in power in Spain, said on Wednesday in front of the deputies of his country that this protest was “legitimate”. And the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, said he was “favorable” to an exclusion from the Israel first-tech team from the Vuelta. “We can see that the Spanish government is in total support for demonstrations, and I even think that the problem is much more serious: it is that today, the Spanish security forces do not do everything to protect the sporting demonstration, and in this case its main actors, the athletes. If it is necessary to wait for a drama for the Spanish government to realize that the runners of the Vuelta are the best. For Spain “Pascal singer shot.

Faced with these protest movements, the Spanish authorities announced on Wednesday to strengthen their system, especially over the last days. 400 civil security members were added to the penultimate stage run in the Madrid region, and 1 100 additional police officers on Sunday in Madrid, in order to “Reconcile the security of the sporting event and the legitimate right to demonstrate any citizen”according to the prefecture of Madrid. In 2026, the big departure of the Tour de France will be given from Barcelona.