Riders threaten to quit Vuelta if more pro-Palestine protests disrupt race

[Coventina]

Vuelta a España riders voted to neutralise Wednesday’s stage 17 if protests disrupt the stage rather than race to an “undefined finish line”, which has been a feature in stages disrupted by pro-Palestine supporters. They could even quit the race, a riders’ union (CPA) senior official said.

After a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags stopped the Israel-Premier Tech team in the stage five team time trial, more stages – including stage 16 – ended before the scheduled finish due to protests.

Tuesday’s stage 16 ended eight kilometres before the scheduled finish at Castro de Herville after a large group of protesters, waving Palestinian flags, blocked the road on the ascent to the line.

“The riders voted by a majority to stop in case of a new problem. They will then decide whether to continue or to end the event,” the CPA’s vice-president, Pascal Chanteur, said.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/10/riders-threaten-to-quit-vuelta-if-more-pro-palestine-protests-disrupt-cycling-race

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Please explain how ruining a premiere international cycling event helps save babies in Gaza?

All it does is alienate people.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Folks don't want to hear it

Coventina. Everything else is 'supposed to stop' until Gaza is free. That's not realistic. At the rate Israel's leadership is moving there may not be a Gaza to demand freedom for in very short order. I'm old enough to remember the US Embassy in Israel being moved to Jerusalem.

[Initech]

3. It's absolutely absurd.

Netanyahu is an absolute fucking monster who is reducing Palestine to rubble and getting away with it. In a just world, the United States and allies would be showing him what we used to do to terrorists. Putin too. I will never wrap my head around how people are going complicit with Netanyahu's genocide. He is a war criminal, and deserves to be treated as such.

[ananda]

6. There's huge money involved in the Gaza takeover.

I see it as a kind of test case for further land takeovers.

Bibi is giving Trump and Jared Gaza to "rebuild."

We all know what that means.

[lapfog_1]

2. I remember the protests against South Africa

when it was officially apartheid. They protested everywhere there was an official South African team event or representation.

Eventually Apartheid ended.

I suppose the Palestinian protesters are hoping for the same with Israel. End the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Allow in food and medical help. Quit bombing hospitals. Allow for a 2 state solution...

Starving millions in Palestine might be worth disrupting a cycling race. At least it gets people to ask "Why are these people disrupting my entertainment".

[Behind the Aegis]

4. "All it does is alienate people."

Apparently, not. All it does is encourage more behavior like it. They will always find an excuse.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Agreed

I don't believe in our lifetime that will ever change.