"The worst Tour I've ever experienced": threatened by protests, the Vuelta has become a nightmare for riders
The Tour of Spain was disrupted, almost from start to finish, by pro-Palestinian protests. Tensions mounted and stages were shortened. In the middle, the riders rode in a tense and anxious atmosphere.
By Christophe Bérard"Talk about that? Not even in my dreams! If I say that pro-Palestinian protesters are putting us in danger, people will say I don't care about what's happening in Gaza. And if I say that if the Israel-Premier Tech team should have left the race to calm things down, people will say I'm anti-Zionist. I only have blows to take, and I already take enough risks on my bike." This statement from a French rider, delivered anonymously, reveals the embarrassment of the entire peloton at the Tour of Spain.
Almost since the beginning of the Vuelta, extra-sporting tension has been present in the Spanish race. In a country where support for the Palestinian cause is strong , many protesters, first in the Basque Country and then in the rest of the country, have called for the ouster of the Israel-Premier Tech team. Some have tried to interrupt the stages, which has brought down riders .
Le Parisien
