Organisers of the Vuelta a España yield to pressure from environmental activists and prohibit spectators from the last kilometer of the stage 20 ascent.
The organizers of the Vuelta a Espana have announced a change in spectator policy for the penultimate stage of the race. In a move aimed at avoiding further disruptions and addressing concerns about the fragile ecosystem of the Bola del Mundo climb, spectators will be encouraged to locate themselves on the penultimate Puerto de Navacerrada climb instead.
The Bola del Mundo climb, a challenging 12.5km ascent with an average gradient of 8.5%, has been used in the Vuelta a Espana twice, in 2010 and 2012. However, the organizers have not addressed whether they will take additional measures to address the concerns raised by environmental activists about the climb.
These concerns include insufficient waste bins, vehicles driving up the climb, advertising banners staked into the ground, and crowds trampling the park's flora. The Ecologists in Action group believes that the stage 20 finish, along with the crowds, infrastructure, and traffic, will damage the mountain's ecosystem.
The decision to move spectators follows one of the Grand Tour's most chaotic days in recent times, where pro-Palestine protestors disrupted stage 11 of the race, forcing organizers to neutralise the final 3km. This is not the first time that the race has been disrupted by these protests; they have disrupted the race on multiple occasions this year, including during Israel-Premier Tech's team time trial effort on stage 5.
The organizers have not clarified whether they will continue to consider the recommendations of the Ecologists in Action group in the future. It is unclear whether this compromise will be enough to thwart any potential protests from environmental activists at the race.
Spectators are asked to respect the mountain's flora and fauna and to avoid straying from the road. The organizers have not specified any penalties for spectators who disregard the new rules and attempt to reach the final climb of the stage.
The Vuelta a Espana, a prestigious Grand Tour cycling race, is moving to ensure a smoother and more environmentally friendly race. Whether this decision will be successful remains to be seen.
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