‘we Just Want To Race’: Riders Demand Tighter Security After Protesters Halt Vuelta

The Professional Cyclists’ Association (CPA) has demanded amended information astatine nan Vuelta a España aft protesters disrupted stages successful caller days, pinch 1 rider crashing erstwhile demonstrators ran connected to nan road.

The CPA expressed interest astir rider information aft incidents connected Tuesday’s shape 10 and Wednesday’s shape 11, arsenic good arsenic past week’s squad clip proceedings when protesters holding Palestinian flags stopped nan Israel-Premier Tech team.

As Wednesday’s shape 11 sewage nether measurement successful Bilbao, nan title was stopped successful nan neutral area aft protesters carrying a banner gathered connected nan roadworthy earlier they were ushered to nan broadside by constabulary officers.

The CPA said that “everyone has nan correct to protest” but not astatine nan disbursal of athletes who are simply doing their job. “It is unacceptable that associations, immoderate their quality aliases motivations, should let themselves to discuss nan information and beingness integrity of athletes connected nan road,” nan CPA said successful a statement.

“Cycling is simply a demanding athletics that requires full dedication and superhuman effort from riders. They look utmost beingness challenges connected a regular basis, and it is unacceptable that outer threats should adhd to these difficulties.

“The CPA will ne'er tolerate irresponsible and vulnerable actions by a number that endanger nan lives of our members.“

The CPA besides requested Spanish information services to “do everything successful their power” to guarantee riders were protected.

Vuelta organisers person been approached for comment.

Tuesday’s protestation led to respective riders taking evasive action but Simone Petilli of Intermarche-Wanty fell connected nan road. “I understand that is not a bully situation, but yesterday I collapsed because of a protestation connected nan road,” Petilli said connected X.

“Please, we are conscionable cyclists and we are doing our job, but if it will proceed for illustration this our information is not guaranteed immoderate more, and we consciousness successful danger. We conscionable want to race.”

The retired cycling awesome Mark Cavendish besides pleaded pinch spectators to show respect to nan riders and not return nan proximity to nan action for granted.“Don’t get adjacent to nan riders, don’t push nan riders, don’t person flags aliases objects getting successful nan measurement – don’t do thing that’s going to alteration nan race,” Cavendish said.