There was no winner this Wednesday during the 11the Step from Vuelta to Bilbao. Following numerous incidents caused by pro-Palestine demonstrators, the organization of the Tour of Spain decided to freeze the times three kilometers from the finish.
Fiasco on the Vuelta. The massive presence of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the finish line led the organizers of the Tour of Spain to shorten the 11th stage of the Tour of Spain and not to designate a winner Wednesday in Bilbao. This new incident comes while this 80th edition of the Vuelta has been enameled since its departure on August 23 by daily demonstrations of militants protesting in particular against the presence of the Israel Premier Tech Israeli team on the third big round of the year.
Wednesday, tension rose up a notch, while many activists, sporting flags and banners, were massaged along the last straight line. Supervised by the police, several of them tried to force the barriers before the first pass of the peloton on the finish line. The direction of the Vuelta reacted quickly: “Following incidents on the finish line, we decided to take the time three kilometers from the line. There will be no stage winner“She announced when the runners left for a tour around the Basque city.
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“Really a shame” for Vingegaard
The times taken three kilometers from the initially planned arrival were recorded for the general classification which is still dominated by the Danish Jonas Vingegaard, despite the attack by Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) in the last climb, to pocket six seconds of luck.
«The first time we’ve passed the line, we saw the demonstrators trying to go on the road and the police try to contain them“Reported the former double winner of the Tour de France,”disappointedNot having been able to play the stage victory. “”Today is my son’s first anniversary. I wanted to win for him, it’s really a shame“Said the wearer of the red jersey. This new episode asks many questions about the good performance of the upcoming steps and the pressure may increase on the Israel PT team to withdraw from the Vuelta.
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Tour of Spain: the runners feel “in danger” with the multiplication of pro-Palestinian demonstrations
Repeated incidents
On Wednesday, before the start of the stage, several runners pointed out the risks for their safety in the aftermath of the fall of one of them caused during such a demonstration. During the team time trial of the fifth stage, activists had already tried to block the runners of Israeli training in Figueras, Catalonia.
The director of the Vuelta, Javier Guillen, had indicated that the organizers would file a complaint with the police, qualifying this demonstration as “violence». The Spanish Minister of Youth, Sira Rego, had in stride tried “absolutely unacceptable“To call” “violent” a “peaceful protest“Against a team supported by a state accused of”systematic violenceIn the Gaza Strip.
Similar incidents had taken place in July during the Tour de France, where a pro-Palestinian activist disrupted the arrival of the stage in Toulouse, and the Tour of Italy in May. But the extent of the demonstrations on this Vuelta is much more important.
ANDER GILLENEA / AFP
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Unfailing support of the Spanish left government to the Palestinian cause
The socialist government of the socialist Pedro Sánchez officially recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024, jointly with Ireland and Norway, and made unfailing support to the Palestinian cause one of the main axes of its foreign policy for 18 months.
And like his extreme left allies within the government, he recently qualified as “genocideThe situation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, a term that few international leaders have so far used.
His positions have been welcomed in recent months by the Arab countries, but have earned him strong criticism from the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, who decided in May 2024 to recall his ambassador to Spain for consultations.
In the country, the Palestinian cause is very popular in particular among leftist activists, and Palestinian flags are visible in many cities, hung on balconies or brandished during parties or demonstrations.
