Vuelta a España Director Javier Guillen insisted that despite the latest wave of protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza that resulted in a partial suspension stage 16, the race will continue as planned to Madrid.
The Back to Spain has now been halted before planned finish lines on two occasions by protesters against the ongoing presence of the Israel-Premier Tech squad, both on stage 11 and again on stage 16 before the final ascent to Castro de Herville.
“We had more security today, and in a sport like cycling, to be able to stop those kinds of numbers is virtually impossible, although we will try.”
“This isn’t a crusade. I’m not fighting against anybody. We just want the race to go on. These actions have to stop,” he added, “because this [blocking of the race] can’t be legitimized. It’s putting the public’s, the riders’, and the protesters’ lives in danger.”
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