'He was in a lot of pain' - Javier Romo injured but completes Vuelta a Espana stage after pro-Palestine protestor indirectly causes Movistar rider to fall

"Movistar rider Javier Romo was able to complete stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espana despite suffering a heavy fall caused indirectly by a pro-Palestine protestor running towards the road, but as teammate Carlos Canal told reporters after the finish, "hopefully it's not too bad because we need him a lot." After completing the stage, some 14 minutes down, Romo did not talk to the press at the finish, heading straight inside the Movitar team bus to have medics look over his injuries."

"However, photos at the finish of Romo's large scrape on his left hip and other cuts and bruises spoke volumes about what had happened, and Canal - present with Romo in the large break of the day when the incident happened, but not a direct spectator - was later able to provide some more details of the consequences. You may like The crash occurred as the race was running through a wooded area with few spectators, approximately 60 kilometres from the finish line."

"A pro-Palestine protestor, carrying a flag, ran down a grass bank and attempted to reach the road, but fell heavily just as he came to the edge of the tarmac. Romo and another rider, who was apparently uninjured, moved their bikes abruptly when they saw the protestor approaching fast, and their sudden action caused the two to fall. This is the second time that a rider has crashed as a result of roadside pro-Palestine protestors in the Vuelta,"

Javier Romo completed stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espana despite suffering a heavy fall after a pro-Palestine protestor ran toward the road. Romo finished about 14 minutes down and went straight to the Movitar team bus for medical attention, showing a large scrape on his left hip and other cuts. Teammate Carlos Canal said the team needs him and hoped injuries were not severe. The crash occurred in a wooded area about 60 kilometres from the finish when the protestor fell at the tarmac edge, prompting Romo and another rider to swerve and fall. A protestor was arrested and police erected barriers near the finish to deter demonstrators.

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