The European Road Cycling Championships will take place from October 1 to 5 in Drôme-Ardèche and the Israeli selection has confirmed its presence.
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The concern is strong with all the organizers of cycling races since the last Vuelta, disturbed by important pro-Palestinian demonstrations protesting against the presence of the Israel Premier Tech team. The French Cycling Federation (FFC), organizer of the next European Championships in Drôme-Ardèche, from October 1 to 5, will thus take strengthened security measures in the presence of the Israeli selection.
“It actually assumes that we strengthen cooperation with the state services, that we adjust with them everything that will seem necessary for them that runners can evolve in peace”said Michel Callot, president of the FFC, in an interview with the team and AFP on the sidelines of the world championships in Kigali (Rwanda) where the question agitates the authorities.
For the European championships, the national selection of Israel confirmed its participation by recording a list of thirteen athletes, all male (3 juniors, 9 hopes and 1 elite runner). “Important information is that the time trial is not affected, only the three online races in men. In terms of security approach, this is an important point because the time trial, where everyone knows when the athlete will arrive, is really complicated to secure. It is a relief for me as an organizer”explained the president of the FFC.
The details of the security system remain to be determined. “We are going to discuss calmly this week with state services so that they tell us. They necessarily have more information than us. At this stage, we do not yet know to what extent we will strengthen the device, nor where, or how else.” The security of the Israeli delegation outside the race, “escape” at the FFC. “On a European or world championship, it is not the organizer who houses the teams. It is the nations themselves”, specifies Michel Callot.
