"There is only one solution and we all know what it is": the UCI does not get involved and Israel-Premier Tech continues

The Vuelta a España is facing one of the most delicate episodes in its recent history. Stage 11, with the finish line in Bilbao, was neutralized just three kilometers from the finish line for security reasons, after an intense pro-Palestinian protest aimed at eliminating the Israel - Premier Tech team.

The incident has exposed a gap in cycling governance: while the UCI insists on its "political neutrality," the Israeli team remains firm in its intention to continue competing, and the organizers of La Vuelta are left to manage an increasingly tense situation on their own.

The UCI stays out, Israel-Premier Tech doesn't back down, and La Vuelta bears the problem

Flags, shouts, banners, and objects thrown onto the road in the last 500 meters of the stage forced the organization to activate an improvised security protocol. Through Radio Vuelta, it was confirmed that there would be no stage winner, that times would be taken at 3 km from the finish line, and that the points classification would be canceled.

The riders were diverted before the official finish line, and the Israel - Premier Tech team, escorted by the police, was the first to leave the finish area near the San Mamés stadium. The scene left an atypical image in a grand tour: no podium, no celebration, with a bewildered peloton and an organization caught in the crossfire.

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La Vuelta, amidst the conflict

The technical director of La Vuelta, Kiko García, did not dodge questions after the incident. In statements to various media outlets, he expressed his concern:

"We made the best possible decision. I surveyed the teams and that's how they felt. But now we need to take a breather. This will continue to happen if measures are not taken."

Although he did not directly call for the Israel - Premier Tech team to withdraw, he did hint at what, from his point of view, would be the only viable solution:

"There is only one solution, and we all know what it is. We cannot make that decision, but if safety is prioritized, we understand that it would be that: that the team itself realizes that its presence does not ensure the safety of everyone else."

García also acknowledged that the situation had been warned in advance to the UCI, without the organization making any decision regarding it.

Israel - Premier Tech has no plans to withdraw

Despite the tense atmosphere, the Israel - Premier Tech team issued a statement reaffirming its willingness to continue in the race:

"Withdrawing would set a dangerous precedent for all of cycling. We respect the right to protest as long as it is peaceful, but today's events compromised the safety of the peloton."

The team thanked the organization and the police for their actions and lamented that the Basque fans were deprived of the final spectacle:

"The behavior of the protesters was dangerous and counterproductive to their cause. Bilbao and the Basque Country deserved a proper stage finish."

In stage 12, starting from Laredo, the team plans to start, although they have minimized any visual reference to "Israel": the bus only displays the name "Premier Tech," and several riders avoided the mixed zone.

The UCI sticks to its institutional discourse

The International Cycling Union issued a generic statement late in the day, condemning the events but avoiding any specific measures. It reaffirmed its commitment to "political neutrality" and highlighted the role of sports as a tool to "bring people together beyond their differences."

"Cycling has the vocation to overcome barriers and should not be used as a tool for sanctions. We express our full support and solidarity to the teams and riders," concludes the text, without directly referring to the case of the Israel - Premier Tech team or proposing any kind of action.

This discourse is similar to what we heard a few years ago when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, but on that occasion the UCI, on the recommendation of the IOC, did expel Russian and Belarusian teams from any competition.

The peloton, between fear and helplessness

The day also left worrying testimonies from within the peloton. Joan Bou (Caja Rural) was blunt:

"We were scared. This seems like a riot, with fences flying and flags. Every day it gets worse."

Patxi Vila, director of Red Bull - BORA and personal friend of Óscar Guerrero (director of the Israeli team), pointed out:

"The first pass through the finish line was scary. Seeing someone like Óscar suffer like that is very tough. This is not cycling."

Without a doubt, Tom Pidcock was the most critical of what happened yesterday and expressed his opinion on both the organization's decision and the protesters: "We are not running a damn cyclosportive, right?"

A conflict that goes beyond cycling

La Vuelta continues, at least for now, with all teams in the race. But the neutralization of stage 11 marks a turning point. The organization is balancing to keep the competition going. The Israel - Premier Tech team does not want to give up its right to compete. And the UCI, in the meantime, maintains its discourse of Olympic principles without offering practical answers.

The question now is whether international cycling is ready to handle conflicts of this magnitude or if, as in Bilbao, it will continue to leave the burden on those on the front line.