Cycling-The Vuelta in the shadow of resistance to the Gaza War

At Vuelta a España, the protests against the Gaza war are increasingly putting sporty events in the shade. The second week in particular was characterized by many Propalestinian statements that have a hard time influencing both cyclists and the implementation of the tour. There was no day winner on the 11th stage: due to massive demonstrations in the target area and therefore emerging security concerns, the route was shortened and the drivers were led directly to the buses without a target sprint. This decision was praised by professionals, supervisors and the teams as the right one.

Dangerous protest

On the 13th stage, demonstrators with a banner stopped the outliers of the day for about 30 seconds at the foot of the climb to the Angliru, which destroyed their chances of a stage victory. “The field would also have been stopped after a rail barrier, but that did not happen here,” later Christian Knees complained as the sporting director of the Ineos team, to which one of the outliers belongs. The Vuelta organizers were completely powerless on the 15th stage on Sunday, when a person with a Palestine flag fell on the large flight group of the day, but then got tangled with the flag and plant growth on the side of the road and fell into the ditch. A policeman hurried over from the other side of the street. This chaos on the street unsettled the drivers in such a way that Spaniard Ivan Como and the Maximilian Schachmann, born in Berlin.

“I don’t understand how to demonstrate against terror by doing terror yourself. This is really comparable when you jump out of the forest and throw yourself in front of a group that is traveling at 55 km/h, «Schachmann visibly Sauer opposite» ND «. He had previously expressed understanding. “It is completely legitimate and good to show the flag or to allow freedom of expression,” he said after the 11th stage of the stage, but also warned: “It is about doing it peacefully and without hatred of any people.”

Without “Israel”

The discussions about the safety of the race then achieved such an intensity that Vuelta boss Javier Guillen was forced to emphasize that the rumors that the 21st stage would be canceled due to security concerns did not correspond to the truth. So the tour of the Spain continues. Also with the Israel Premier Tech team, where the resentment of the opponents of the war is very inflamed. However, the lettering “Israel” did not repetition from the team vehicles and the clothing of the racing drivers. It is an attempt to de -escalation.

Sylvan Adams finances Israel Premier Tech and understands itself and the team expressly as “ambassador of Israel”. So far, however, he has not been ready for discussions on the current situation, although he was also on site at the Vuelta. Certainly a difficult situation for him, but as a self -proclaimed ambassador you should also answer questions in complicated situations. The Israeli racing team only plays a subordinate role in the race itself. After all, the American Matthew Riccitello is a gripping duel around the white jersey of the best young professional with the Italian climbing jewel Giulio Pellizzari from the Red Bull racing team. And the British Ethan Vernon won two second places in mass sprints.

Celebrate without wine

So far, two Danes and the aggressive Emirates-Equipe have pressed the sporty stamp. Jonas Vingegaard has been leading the overall ranking since the tenth stage; compatriot Mads Pedersen has been wearing the points since the 4th stage. You could ensure an unprecedented event: two rating jerseys for Denmark on a Grand Tour. The Emirates team already won seven stage wins. This success series has a curious side effect: »If you win once or twice, that’s something special. But when it happens again and again, this special moment is lost, «explained Juan Ayuso, who himself contributed two daily victories. During the last success on Saturday in La Farrapona, the mandatory bottle of wine was brought out for dinner, the Spaniard reported.

Now the rest of the peloton hopes that Emirates is limited in the third week to support his own captain Joao Almeida in such a way that he passes Vingegaard in the overall ranking – and therefore hunting the stage wins from escape groups.