Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Chaos in the Vuelta a España, once again. The sixteenth stage was beheaded by a large pro-Palestine protest, so that the organization-not for the first time in the round-had to shorten the ride. Richard Plugge regrets the state of affairs and makes a call to the demonstrators, but also to the organization of the Tour of Spain.
“It is really a shame that this decision was again necessary to guarantee the safety of the riders,” Plugge responds on the Visma | website | Lease a bike. “As long as the organization of the race and the UCI de Vuelta let it go, I assume that they can do that in complete safety. But it is already the second time they have to come back to it during the race and that also has an impact.”
“I want to call the audience again not to influence our riders and the race,” Plugge is aimed at the activists. “But I also want to call on the organization to do the maximum to secure the competition so that we can all enjoy an exciting battle in the last week of the Vuelta.”
Vingegaard: “This should not happen”
Leader Jonas Vingegaard also shines his light on the protests and chaos that arose. “It is a pity that this has happened again,” the Dane refers to the forced shortening of the ride. “Everyone has the right to protest, but it is a shame that it had to be done here and in this way, so we could not finish the stage.”
“That should not happen. The team worked very hard today and I would have liked to have rewarded their efforts in the final. It is also a shame that the Spanish cycling fans have not been able to see a spectacular final.”
