Organizers of the Vuelta a España yield to pressure from environmental activists, forbidding spectators in the final kilometer of the stage 20 climb.
Vuelta a España Bans Spectators from Final Kilometre of Bola del Mundo Climb
The organizers of the Vuelta a España have announced a change in spectator arrangements for the penultimate stage of this year's Grand Tour. Spectators will no longer be allowed past the 1km marker on the final climb of the stage, the Bola del Mundo, also known as Alto de Guarramillas.
This decision comes after a chaotic day during stage 11 of the race, where pro-Palestine protestors disrupted the race, forcing organizers to neutralize the final 3km. In an effort to avoid further protests and maintain the integrity of the race, spectators are being encouraged to locate themselves on the penultimate Puerto de Navacerrada climb instead.
The Bola del Mundo climb, a 12.5km ascent with an average gradient of 8.5%, was last used in La Vuelta during the 2012 edition of the race and was first introduced in 2010. However, the organizers have cited several reasons for banning spectators from the final kilometre of the climb. These include insufficient waste bins, vehicles driving up the climb with advertising banners staked into the ground, and the inability to prevent the crowds from trampling the park's flora.
The Ecologists in Action group, who have previously expressed concerns about the Bola del Mundos climb, have not publicly commented on the decision to shift spectators to the Puerto de Navacerrada climb. However, the group has called for the race to avoid the Bola del Mundo climb altogether, due to concerns about the fragile ecosystem of the mountain.
The organizers have not provided detailed plans on how they will manage waste, traffic, and advertising on the Puerto de Navacerrada climb. They have also not discussed the possibility of implementing stricter crowd control measures on this climb. Spectators are asked to avoid straying from the road and respect the mountain's flora and fauna.
The Vuelta a España's stage 20 will not include spectators from the final kilometre on the Bola del Mundo climb. The organizers have not made any official statement about whether they will return to the Bola del Mundo climb in future editions of the race.
The group that caused a stir during the Vuelta a España 2021 by criticizing the use of the Bola del Mundo climb and making recommendations to the organizers was the Cyclists' Union (Sindicato de Ciclistas). Despite their concerns, the organizers have decided to take action and ensure a safer and more environmentally friendly race for all involved.
