Israel-premier Tech Say Pulling Out Of Vuelta Would ‘set A Dangerous Precedent’

The Israel-Premier Tech squad person said pulling retired of this year’s Vuelta a España would “set a vulnerable precedent successful nan athletics of cycling” aft pro-Palestinian protests disrupted nan 11th stage of nan title connected Wednesday.

There was nary victor declared connected Wednesday’s shape owed to protestors astatine nan decorativeness statement successful Bilbao. Israel-Premier Tech were besides nan target of protests during nan team time-trial past week and location person been suggestions that immoderate members of nan peloton would for illustration nan squad to retreat from nan race.

After shape 11, though, Israel-Premier Tech pledged to continue. “Israel–Premier Tech is simply a master cycling team,” nan squad said successful a statement. “As such, nan squad remains committed to racing connected astatine nan Vuelta a España. Any different people of action sets a vulnerable precedent successful nan athletics of cycling, not only for Israel–Premier Tech, but for each teams.

“Israel–Premier Tech has many times expressed its respect for everyones’ correct to protest, arsenic agelong arsenic those protests stay serene and do not discuss nan information of nan peloton. The Vuelta a España title organisation and constabulary are doing everything successful their powerfulness to create a safe situation and, for that, nan squad is particularly grateful.

“However, nan behaviour of protestors successful Bilbao coming was not only dangerous, but counterproductive to their origin and deprived nan Basque cycling fans, immoderate of nan champion cycling fans successful nan world, of nan shape decorativeness they deserved.

“We convey nan title organisers and UCI for their continued support and cooperation, arsenic good arsenic nan teams and riders that person expressed their support some publically and privately and, of course, our fans.”

Israel–Premier Tech are expected connected nan startline successful Laredo connected Thursday greeting for nan 144.9km shape to Los Corrales de Buelna. The squad besides person a six-man squad astatine nan men’s Tour of Britain, wherever shape 3 – moving from Milton Keynes to Ampthill – takes spot connected Wednesday.