Spanish minister says Israeli cycling team should be expelled from Vuelta after protest
Top minister calls for Israeli team to be kicked out of major cycling race
- Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, stated he would support the expulsion of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from the Vuelta a España following a pro-Palestinian protest.
- The protest during stage 11 in Bilbao led to the stage being called off approximately 10 kilometres from the finish, with protestors carrying Palestinian flags and signs.
- Vuelta organisers condemned the disruption, while also affirming the right to peaceful demonstration, but stressed that acts endangering participants were unacceptable.
- Despite suggestions from the Vuelta's technical director that the Israeli team should consider withdrawing for safety, Israel-Premier Tech affirmed they would not pull out, citing a dangerous precedent.
- The UCI, cycling's governing body, condemned the incident, emphasising cycling's role in unity and its unsuitability as a tool for punishment.