Vuelta a España Ends in Chaos: Protests, Injuries, and Route Changes Force Final Stage Cancellation
The Vuelta a España faced significant disruptions this year due to protests targeting the Israeli-Premier Tech cycling team. The race organisers initially insisted on finishing in Madrid despite ongoing protests, but were forced to cancel the final stage and alter routes of several others. Now, a Spanish state police commission has proposed fines and bans for protestors, while the UCI President has reaffirmed their commitment to not banning Israeli teams.
Protests, largely driven by pro-Palestinian sentiments, led to two riders, Simone Petilli and Ivan Romeo, being injured during the Vuelta. The race organisers were initially adamant about completing the event in Madrid, but were forced to change their stance due to escalating protests. Five stages had their routes altered, and the final stage, along with the awards ceremony, was cancelled after protestors breached security barriers.
The Israel-Premier Tech team has faced exclusion from some races, like the Giro dell'Emilia in Italy, and has taken measures such as removing the team name from kits in other events to prevent disruptions. However, there is no official permanent exclusion from future races. Following these incidents, CPA President Adam Hansen has called for stages to be shortened or cancelled in advance to prevent similar disruptions in the future. UCI President David Lappartient has stated their commitment to not pursuing a ban on Israeli teams despite ongoing protests. Riders have collectively agreed to stop racing if there are further incidents, with over 2,000 police deployed for the final stage.
The Vuelta a España's 2022 edition was marred by protests, leading to injuries, route changes, and the cancellation of the final stage. In response, a Spanish state police commission has proposed fines and bans for protestors. Meanwhile, cycling officials and riders are considering preventive measures to ensure the safety of all participants in future races.
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