The racing line of Vuelta a España has shortened the 16th stage of the bike race by eight kilometers due to new propalestinian protests. Three kilometers before the finish in Castro de Herville, a larger group of demonstrators gathered, the management justified their decision.
A group of demonstrators with Palestinian flags had blocked the street to the final climb. The new goal was then brought forward.
In the end, the Colombian Egan Bernal finally prevailed in front of the Spaniard Mikel Landa and the Frenchman Brieuc Rolland and won the stage. The German cyclist Nico Denz from Waldshut-Tiengen was fourth. The award ceremony was lost.
The incident is not the first: this year the tour of the Spain is repeatedly shaped by protests, especially against the Israel – Prime Minister Tech. There was therefore no winner at the eleventh stage because the stage had to be canceled. The Israeli team then removed the word “Israel” for the rest of the Vuelta from the drivers’ jerseys.
Protests are also feared for the other stages. The 17th Vuelta stage ends on Wednesday with the challenging mountain arrival on the Alto de El Morredero. The individual time trial in Valladolid is pending on Thursday. The Spain tour traditionally ends in Madrid on Sunday.
