Protestersduring the Vuelta a España competition face potential fines and sports suspensions.
The Vuelta a España, one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world, has been marred by a series of protests this year, with riders and team managers expressing concern over the escalating violence.
Richard Plugge, team manager for Visma-Lease a Bike, stated that he had never experienced such hatred during the Vuelta a Espana and that riders were being attacked. The protests, he believes, have transcended the sport and are expected to continue in the final races of the season.
The protests, primarily Pro-Palestine in nature, have been a recurring issue throughout the race. During stage 16, protestors invaded the road with three kilometers to go, affecting the final climb. An earlier stage, stage 11 to Bilbao, was also neutralized with three kilometers to go due to protests.
The Madrid stage of the Vuelta a Espana ended early to avoid a mass protest in the Spanish capital. During the final stage of the race to Madrid, protesters invaded the roads, forcing organizers to end the stage prematurely.
The Spanish Anti-Violence Commission for Sport has proposed fines and sanctions against 17 people who protested during the Vuelta a Espana. Those who protested face fines of between €3,000 and 4,000 and six-month bans from attending sporting events.
Riders have voted to neutralize the racing if there were more protests. The Israel-Premier Tech team, who participated in this year's Vuelta a Espana, has been one of the causes of the protests.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly supported the Vuelta protests in support of Palestine and called for Israel to be banned from competing in international sports. This call has sparked a wider debate about the role of politics in sports.
The Commission, which usually deals with acts of violence and abuse in Spanish football stadiums, has found itself grappling with the unique challenges posed by these protests. The Commission proposed the sanctions after reports by the Spanish police during stages 12, 14, and 15 of the Vuelta a España.
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Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with violent protests expected to continue as the situation escalates. Richard Plugge also expressed his opinion that the UCI should have given the Vuelta more support much earlier to manage the protests effectively.
As the final stages of the Vuelta a España approach, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the riders and maintaining the integrity of the race.
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