The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has said it “firmly condemns” the actions that led to the neutralisation of stage 11 of La Vuelta a España yesterday.
With roughly 20km to go on the 157.4km stage, starting and ending in Bilbao, the race organisers announced the stage would end 3km early due to pro-Palestine protesters.
In a statement released last night, the UCI said: “The UCI reiterates the fundamental importance of the political neutrality of sports organisations within the Olympic Movement, as well as the unifying and pacifying role of sport. Major international sporting events embody a spirit of unity and dialogue, transcending differences and divisions.”
“The UCI would also like to reiterate that sport, and cycling in particular, has a role to play in bringing people together and overcoming barriers between them, and should under no circumstances be used as a tool for punishment,” it went on.
The UCI added that staff and riders at La Vuelta should be able to “practise their profession and pursue their passion in optimal conditions of safety and serenity”.
La Vuelta decided not to award a stage winner or award points for the points classification, with only points obtained at the mountain passes and intermediate sprints retained.
The race organisers also “strongly condemned” the protests in a statement released after the stage, adding that: “La Vuelta respects and defends the right to peaceful demonstration within the context of the event, but cannot tolerate any acts that put at risk the physical safety of participants or any member of the race caravan.”
Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) was at the front of the race with general classification leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) when the decision to shorten the stage was announced.
After the stage, he expressed frustration at missing his chance for a stage win. “I’m not saying I would have won, but I think I had a good chance to win,” said Pidcock.
“I felt like today was my day, but I feel like there always should be a finish line,” he added. “We’re not riding a fucking sportive are we?”
“Putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause. It’s not going to help what they’re protesting for,” Pidcock added. “Everyone’s got a right to protest whatever they want, but putting us in danger is not the way forward.”
The pro-Palestine protests at La Vuelta have primarily been against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech – the team co-owned by Sylvan Adams, a Canadian-Israeli businessman who is a vocal supporter of Israel and a citizen of the country.
Israel–Premier Tech said they would not withdraw from the race, saying the team “remains committed” to La Vuelta.
The team added: “Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling not only for Israel–Premier Tech, but for all teams. Israel–Premier Tech has repeatedly expressed its respect for everyone's right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton.
“We thank the race organizers and UCI for their continued support and cooperation, as well as the teams and riders that have expressed their support both publicly and privately and, of course, our fans.”
Israel–Premier Tech’s team time trial was disrupted by protestors last week, and other demonstrators entered the course on stage 10, after which Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Wanty) crashed.
Petilli, who fell but finished the stage, wrote on X: “I understand that is not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a Protest on the road.”
“Please, we are just Cyclists and we are doing our Job, but if it will continue like this our safety is not guaranteed anymore, and we feel in danger! We just want to race! Please,” he added.
There were meetings between the riders' union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), and the race organisers before stage 11, with riders saying they would ride as long as protests were peaceful.
There have been pro-Palestine protests at all three of this year’s Grand Tours.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for peaceful protests in April at this year’s Grand Tours against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech.
The BDS Movement said in April: “As Israel escalates its ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and its violent military occupation of the West Bank, international sporting bodies have a moral obligation to take all measures to prevent genocide, or risk being held criminally liable.”
There have also been objections to the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech at La Vuelta from Spanish political parties. Izquierda Unida and EH Bildu both called for the team’s exclusion from the race.
