The Israel-Premier Tech team have removed their full name from riders' jerseys for the rest of the Vuelta a Espana after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the finish on stage 11 on Wednesday. The stage ended without a winner after organisers decided to take the time at three kilometres before the line as police struggled to contain hundreds of Palestinian flag-waving protesters in Bilbao.
The Professional Cyclists' Association (CPA) has demanded better security at the Vuelta a Espana after protesters disrupted stages in recent days, with one rider crashing when demonstrators ran on to the road. The CPA expressed concern about rider safety after incidents on Tuesday's stage 10 and Wednesday's stage 11, as well as last week's team time trial when protesters holding Palestinian flags stopped the Israel-Premier Tech team.
The crash on a fast, narrow section of densely wooded downhill saw race leader Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and former Pologne winner Rafal Majka (UAE team Emirates-XRG) amongst the multiple fallers, second-placed Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) forced to abandon, and several other riders... forced to quit.
