UCI denounces Vuelta Palestine protesters’ “militant actions” and blasts Spanish government for “exploiting sport for political purposes”; Ineos rider says protests’ success “very bad for cycling”; Is Tom Pidcock a Tour contender? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Sport is increasingly being used as a platform to address social issues. But the participants cannot become victims of this debate”: More Vuelta protest reaction, as red jersey Jonas Vingegaard says cancelled Madrid stage a “shame”
Jonas Vingegaard’s first ever Vuelta a España win, and third career grand tour victory, probably didn’t turn out as he had imagined it (unless the Dane has a wild imagination).
After sealing the deal on Saturday with an imperious ride on Bola del Mundo, the Visma-Lease a Bike leader was denied the opportunity to properly celebrate his first three-week success since the 2023 Tour de France, at least in the traditional, official sense, anyway.
The pro-Palestine protests which engulfed the finishing circuit in Madrid forced both the cancellation of the stage and the official podium ceremony in the centre of the Spanish capital, a perhaps inevitable development Vingegaard later described as a “shame”.
ASO/Unipublic /Cxcling/ Antonio Baixauli
“It’s a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us,” Vingegaard said in a statement issued by Visma-Lease a Bike.
“I was looking forward to celebrating this overall win with my team and the fans. Everyone has the right to protest, but it’s a shame that it has to happen here and prevents us from finishing the race.”
Vingegaard’s Visma boss Richard Plugge, meanwhile, echoed his star rider’s sentiments on social media this morning – but warned that more needs to be done to ensure that races won’t be brought to a similar grinding halt in the future.
“Nowadays, sport is increasingly being used as a platform to address social issues,” Plugge wrote.
“We must realise that sport is essentially about connection. It can build bridges and foster mutual understanding. But the participants must be protected: they cannot become victims of this debate.”
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA | Cientos de activistas por Palestina ocupan la calzada del recorrido en los últimos kilómetros de la última etapa de @lavuelta a la altura de Atocha
🚔 Han tirado las vallas y la Policía intenta reducirlos
🎙️ Informa @AlbertoArauzM pic.twitter.com/ZZxdvIYLSv
— Tiempo de Juego (@tjcope) September 14, 2025
However, Spain’s biggest rider Juan Ayuso – who enjoyed a turbulent Vuelta, punctuated by a rift with UAE Team Emirates, who he’s leaving next season, and two stage wins – was even more forthright.
“There are many sports where Israeli teams compete, and it only seems that the Vuelta is the one being affected,” Ayuso said after protesters tried to block the road and run in front of riders on Saturday.
“I support any protest, but when they enter the road, they lost my respect.”
More Than A Cyclist teams up with West Midlands Fire Service for brilliant new fire engine campaign
When it comes to cycling road safety campaigns, there’s no missing this one.
More Than A Cyclist, the group behind 2023’s visceral ‘Bloody Cyclists’ campaign, has teamed up with West Midlands Fire Service to deck out a fire tender at Hay Mills station with one of their eye-catching, though-provoking images.
“Stuart is a firefighter. He also rides a bike. Stuart is #morethanacyclist,” the group wrote. “Remember to give people who ride bicycles on the road space when you pass.”
Powerful stuff, as always. For more on More Than A Cyclist, check out our podcast interview with the campaign’s Rob Anderson:
What do you do when faced with bins blocking the bike lane? Use them to make a protected lane, of course
Top thinking here from Minnesota-based cyclist, the Pedalling Professor:
When life gives you lemons…. Make a pop-up separated bike lane!
— Pedaling Professor (@pedalingprof.bsky.social) September 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Though I reckon something a bit more permanent would be preferable.
(Although it probably still wouldn’t stop the neighbours from leaving their bins in the cycle lane. Is there such a thing as bin segregation? I’ll look into it…)
Meanwhile, over in Montréal…
The Vuelta may have come to an unceremonious halt, but at least there was still some racing on last night, courtesy of the GP Montréal (which wasn’t immune to some anti-Israel protests either, it must be said).
Across the pond, UAE Team Emirates made it win number 85 of the season through Brandon McNulty, equalling the record set by Mark Cavendish and André Greipel’s rampant HTC-Columbia squad back in 2009.
(To put things into perspective, Jonas Vingegaard’s Vuelta win means that Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE’s traditional rivals, currently have 38 wins in 2025.)
And, just to underline the squad’s dominance, that record-equalling win came courtesy of a truly authoritative one-two, as McNulty and his world champion teammate Tadej Pogačar (who else) worked over Quinn Simmons on the final two laps.
Pogačar then teed up his American colleague for the victory, the images of the pair cruising across the line, a minute ahead of the rest, the perfect summary of a season of complete and utter dominance.
Well, at least we saw Alaphilippe winning on Friday…
From string-spoked wheels and speedy gravel bikes to a £950 storage unit, here’s a first look at the latest gravel-focused tech we have in for review at the road.cc office…
> Five cool gravel things coming soon from Cervelo, Scribe, Favero, Zefal and Trimetals
Another huge protest hits a bike race, as pro-Palestine cow invades course in attempt to disrupt the Tour of Romania
Move over Madrid and Montréal, this is how you disrupt a bike race, old-school, bovine-style:
Huge protest in @turulromaniei ! A cow tried to enter in the peloton! 😱🐮 Fortunately no cyclist was injured, you can hear them laughing but that was REALLY close. La vaca Lola. 😂#TurulRomaniei pic.twitter.com/K2woi7ftLm
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) September 12, 2025
That cow knew what he was doing, patiently waiting for the peloton to arrive before darting across the road. A certain section of the internet must be up in arms…
How to deal with pavement and bike lane parking, Spanish style
The cattle theme continues on the live blog today, thanks to this Guadalajara-based bull – who must be a big active travel campaigner in his spare time:
Watch this video of an angry cyclist dealing with a car that is parked blocking the bike lane.
— Steven Lucy (@slucy.bsky.social) September 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Oi, can’t park there, mate.
“Our cool box made the Vuelta podium”: Strong Friday evening crit vibes as teams organise DIY cooler-based podium ceremony in car park – complete with Tom Pidcock’s sausage dogs
No official podium ceremony? No problem.
The actual Vuelta podium ceremony with national anthem and featuring Pidcocks two sausage dogs.
I swear this is so much better than the real one 😭 So chaotic haha 😍
(shitty quality to be able to upload sorry)https://t.co/gC5oPMk9Vz pic.twitter.com/RqekOIXvvw
— Olsen (@OlsenCycling) September 14, 2025
The Vuelta organisers may have called off the traditional post-race festivities and packed up the massive stage in front of Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, but that wasn’t going to stop the teams and riders cracking open the sparkling wine and celebrating three weeks of tough racing.
So, in proper evening crit-style, everyone headed to a car park to organise their own DIY podium ceremony.
Up went the makeshift sponsor backdrop, adding to the hastily organised local amateur race vibes, and in went three drinks coolers, one suitably bigger than the rest, 1, 2, and 3 scrawled on each:
Now that’s what I call a proper podium, none of this fancy nonsense.
“Our cool box made the Vuelta podium,” one Visma-Lease a Bike staff member joked last night.
And while the layout may have been rudimentary, the riders were still treated to a full and proper podium ceremony (without the awkward handshaking with dignitaries, thankfully), as the top three and all the classification winners got their moment in the spotlight. Or should that be headlight?
Even Tom Pidcock’s sausage dogs, Acorn and Chestnut got involved, enjoying their owner’s first taste of grand tour podium success (though I’m sure they were left wondering what the big deal was all about).
“This is why we love cycling,” Visma said on Instagram.
True – that was easily the most watchable podium presentation I’ve seen since Geraint Thomas dropped the mic.
Who needs an impressive architectural backdrop when you have a car park and a pop-up stand?
“UK roundabouts are designed to let cars drive through at high speed; pedestrians and cyclists are an afterthought”
> Residents call for road safety action after cyclist dies in collision on “accident hotspot” roundabout that has seen over 70 crashes in past 25 years
POLL: Should Tom Pidcock now be considered a real grand tour contender?
Is the British star now a true three-weeker after his Vuelta podium? Or was his Spanish ride a flash in the pan, and he should stick to stage hunting, the classics, cyclocross, mountain biking, and the rest?
I’ll leave this one to you lot…
“Now I can sit in the sun and not need to worry about it”: Pidcock happy to be “free of being on a schedule every day” after Vuelta and admits “third place feels like a win”
More from Camp Pidcock this afternoon, with Tom telling his Q36.5 team this afternoon that, after three weeks of intense concentration and stress, he now just wants to sit in the sun and not think about plans or schedules for a while, thank you very much.
The 26-year-old also told the team’s website today that his third place at the Vuelta is the biggest achievement of his career, so far – which is big talk coming from a man who’s won Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold, and on Alpe d’Huez.
“I feel proud. I feel happy. Think the biggest thing is now I’m free of being on a schedule every day, focused on recovering, and now I can sit in the sun and not need to worry about it,” he said.
“It’s probably the biggest achievement of my career so far… this third place feels like a win. But it also makes me believe I could fight for more in the future.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
And, it’s fair to say, Pidcock’s Vuelta performance has certainly justified the faith placed him by Q36.5, who signed him last winter following the British star’s acrimonious departure from Ineos.
“It’s still a bit surreal to have a rider on the team who now stands amongst the greats of cycling on a grand tour podium,” Q36.5’s general manager Doug Ryder added.
“It’s remarkable we are now one of the teams who have a rider who achieved that podium place after a gruelling three weeks of intense racing.
“Our goal was a top ten, our dream a top five, but a podium is exceeding all our dreams. And all that in only our second grand tour since Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team started three years ago.”
SprintCyclingAgency
He continued: “This has always been a dream in all the teams we have run throughout the years and for many years it seemed an unattainable dream. It’s a privilege to now have built something with all our partners and with our incredibly professional staff members to attract a rider like Tom Pidcock.
“We have been able to create an environment where one of the best riders in the world feels comfortable, valued and supported by some of the most incredible people in the cycling business. This achievement by Tom has lifted the entire team.
“ With the right people, the right environment and the right culture you can attract the best of the best, on and off the bike. That makes me very proud of this team and everyone involved.”
“There were way more cyclists, but there weren’t way more collisions”
Last word on last week’s tube strike cycling revolution in London, from climate scientist David Ho:
📺 At the end of an unprecedented week for cycling in the capital, LCC CEO Tom Fyans caught up with ITV London to chat the impact and if London is ready for more cycling… 👇
— London Cycling Campaign (@londoncycling.bsky.social) September 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
“It’s important to point out that framing this as ‘more cyclists = more collisions’ is misleading, because it’s not a linear increase,” Ho said in response to ITV’s interview with Tom Fyans from the London Cycling Campaign.
“There were way more cyclists, but there weren’t way more collisions. Cycling good.”
“Before, I didn’t enjoy Grand Tours. This is a big deal, it’s a weight off my shoulders”: Tom Pidcock says breakthrough Vuelta third place a “turning point”
Is Tom Pidcock now a bona-fide grand tour contender?
For basically the entirety of his career so far, it’s been a case of ‘almost, but not quite’ for the multidisciplinary star when it comes to cycling’s three-week events.
Sure, he’s a perennial contender at most one-day classics. Sure, he can turn up on certain big days, like on Alpe d’Huez at the 2022 Tour de France. But stringing it all together for 21 stages, keeping that focus, reining in those attacking instincts – that all seemed beyond Pidcock.
Case in point: His best overall result at a grand tour before this year was 13th, at the 2023 Tour, where he finished almost 48 minutes down on Jonas Vingegaard. It’s a big leap from there to being a reliable podium contender. His previous best result at any WorldTour stage race was sixth, at last year’s Tour de Suisse.
The Q36.5 leader’s first crack at a grand tour for a new team, May’s Giro d’Italia, went largely as expected, then. A lively start, but no stage wins, fizzled out, and Pidcock faded in the high mountains of the final week, eventually finishing 16th on GC, again three-quarters of an hour behind winner Simon Yates.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
But at the Vuelta, something changed. The 26-year-old was remarkably consistent, being in the right place at the right time and stepping up a level in the mountains. By the first day, he was fourth overall, after finishing a very impressive second on Valdezcaray behind Vingegaard, outsprinting João Almeida to the line.
A week later in Bilbao – when a stage win was taken from his grasp due to the protests in the Basque city – he moved up to third.
And, despite the best efforts of Jai Hindley, he stayed there. The double Olympic champion’s performances on the summit finishes were impeccable, never conceding more than 40 seconds to Hindley, and that was only on the fearsome Angliru. On basically every other mountain day, he was there or thereabouts.
Riding a more conservative race that he was used to, Pidcock limited his losses when needed, and demonstrated a whole new side of his capabilities, even putting time into Hindley on the shortened time trial in Valladolid, an effort he described as a career best against the clock.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
To say his final podium place in Madrid – this time just three minutes down on Vingegaard – is a breakthrough is an understatement.
By finishing third at the Vuelta, Pidcock is the first male Olympic mountain bike champion to secure a podium at a grand tour. He’s also the first rider to podium at a three-weeker for second-tier team since Ezequiel Mosquera at the 2010 Vuelta (though the Xacobeo-Galicia rider was later stripped of that result for doping).
And it’s easy to forget, thanks to the wave of British success over the past 15 years, but Pidcock is only the tenth British male to finish on the podium of a grand tour ever.
When it comes to what Tom Pidcock is capable of, it’s fair to say the ceiling is well and truly smashed.
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
“I think there’s been so much talk around what I can do in grand tours and expectation – not really coming from myself to be honest, more from other people – this is a big deal, that I’ve shown that I can perform,” the 26-year-old told Cyclingnews after his podium-sealing ride on Bola del Mundo on Saturday.
“Okay, I’m a way off winning, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be closer in the future. I think in such a short time period, what we’ve achieved as a team is evident now I’m on the podium. So I can only be happy and positive and look forward to what I will do in the future.”
He continued: “Before, I didn’t enjoy Grand Tours, it was not so much fun. So it is definitely something that has changed that perspective and showed me I can achieve what people closest to me believe I can and my team believes I can. It’s a relief, almost – a weight off my shoulders.”
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
Asked whether he found, as he alluded to earlier in the race, GC racing dull, Pidcock said: “I wouldn’t say boring, but it can be tedious, yeah, and monotonous. You have to play safe, and do the boring option, kind of. It’s not as spontaneous and erratic, which is a more enjoyable way to race, so it’s kind of racing safe.”
“Doug [Ryder, Q36.5 team owner] just told me that since 2000, we’re the only ProConti team to stand on the podium in a Grand Tour, so it’s a big deal. And to be a guest team, the 23rd team in the race, it’s a big deal for sure.”
It is a big deal, Tom – and one that could potentially shape his career for years to come.
“The protesters got what they wanted – that’s very bad for cycling”: Ineos rider claims protests “will only get worse” after final Vuelta stage scrapped amid Madrid chaos – “You can’t just pretend nothing is happening”
The Vuelta a España, fittingly for a race that lurched helplessly from one crisis to another for much of its three weeks on the road, concluded in chaos and frustration on the overflowing streets of Madrid.
Three weeks of team time trial blockades, hastily curtailed stages and makeshift finishes, rowdy demonstrations, course invaders, impassable climbs, re-organised routes, and nasty clashes with police all ended with an image we’ve grown accustomed to during this Vuelta: the sight of a finishing straight packed with Palestine flag-waving protesters. And no bike race.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Despite the NATO-level security measures on show – around 2,000 Guardia Civil and police officers were drafted into Madrid for the grand tour’s finale – the scale of the protests, targeting Israel-Premier Tech’s involvement, simply overwhelmed the race.
With around 58km to go, a group of protesters tried to block the road as the peloton entered the traditional circuit around the Spanish capital, causing several riders to stop. Racing was neutralised, discussions held between riders and organisers.
Then images emerged of clashes between activists and police close to the finish. Then footage of hundreds of protesters streaming onto the course with 8km to go, and at the flamme rouge. Spanish television reported there were 3,000 demonstrators in total.
Madrid’s mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida told Marca that some of the protesters were carrying thumbtacks and glass, accusing them of “violence”.
“This is one of the saddest afternoons I can remember in Madrid,” he said.
And so we come to the end of La Vuelta for 2025. Protesters stop the final stage. Vingegaard crowned the winner and a fine podium for Pidcock. pic.twitter.com/0MIvJUTNhG
— Brian Smith 𝕆𝕃𝕐 (@BriSmithy) September 14, 2025
A few minutes later, the stage, inevitably, was cancelled, the official podium ceremony scrapped. Jonas Vingegaard, in the dampest of damp squibs, was declared the winner of the 2025 Vuelta, and the teams set about organising their own DIY cooler-based podiums (more on that later).
And now the postmortem begins.
Writing on social media after the stage, the Ineos Grenadiers’ former world champion Michał Kwiatkowski argued that this year’s Vuelta could be a watershed moment for professional cycling – one where protesters have realised they have the upper hand on race organisers seemingly reluctant to act.
“If the UCI and the responsible bodies couldn’t make the right decisions early enough, then long-term it’s very bad for cycling that the protesters managed to get what they wanted,” Kwiatkowski wrote.
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
“You can’t just pretend nothing is happening.
“From now on, it’s clear for everyone that a cycling race can be used as an effective stage for protests and next time it will only get worse, because someone allowed it to happen and looked the other way.
“It’s a shame for the fans who came here to watch a great event. Personally, I would have preferred to know in advance that the race was cancelled rather than being led to believe everything was going to be fine. See you on the road soon cycling fans.”
While Kwiatkowski’s comments earned praise from some in the cycling world – including Demi Vollering, who responded to the Polish rider’s statement with “Well said” – others were keen to place the chaos at this year’s Vuelta into some perspective.
“As much as I love cycling, the Vuelta is not the most important thing in the world,” said Ben. “Unfortunately, there are things bigger than this. Some perspective.”
UCI denounces Vuelta Palestine protesters’ “militant actions” and takes swipe at Spanish government for “exploiting sport for political purposes” and hindering race
After the final stage of the Vuelta descended into chaos yesterday, and with concerns being raised in the Spanish press about the Tour de France’s planned start in Barcelona next year, it was only a matter of time before the UCI got involved with a hand-wringing statement.
And it’s a spicy statement at that, the governing body criticising the protesters’ “militant actions” while condemning the Spanish government for “exploiting sport for political purposes” by backing the demonstrators’ stance against Israel-Premier Tech’s participation at the Vuelta.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) expresses its total disapproval of and deep concern about the events that marked the 2025 edition of La Vuelta Ciclista a España, notably the abrupt halt to yesterday’s final stage in Madrid, a direct consequence of a series of incidents linked to pro-Palestinian demonstrations,” the UCI said this afternoon.
“Since the race arrived on Spanish soil, the Vuelta was disrupted almost daily by militant actions: individuals intruding into the peloton, throwing urine, endangering riders, and causing physical harm, with some of them crashing, suffering injuries, and being forced to abandon the race.
“Faced with these incidents, the race organisers reacted quickly and calmly, putting emergency measures in place to ensure the continuity of the event. They acted with exemplary professionalism, respecting the autonomy and independence of sport.
“The repeated acts that affected a significant number of stages constitute a serious violation of the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of sport.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
The governing body – the one with the real power to deal with the situation on the ground, as many have noted – then turned their attention to Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, who earlier today called for Israel to be banned from all sports events following the cancelled Madrid stage, arguing that the nation should not be permitted to “whitewash” its “barbarism” in Gaza.
However, according to the UCI Sánchez’s position on Israel-Premier Tech riding the Vuelta is “unacceptable and counterproductive”.
“We also regret the fact that the Spanish Prime Minister and his government have supported actions that could hinder the smooth running of a sporting competition and, in some cases, expressed their admiration for the demonstrators,” the UCI continued.
“This position is contradictory to the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace. It also calls into question Spain’s ability to host major international sporting events, ensuring that they take place in safe conditions and in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter.
“The UCI strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government. Sport must remain autonomous to fulfil its role as a tool for peace. It is unacceptable and counterproductive for our sport to be diverted from its universal mission. Moreover, there are dedicated platforms where countries can discuss their differences.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“As we approach our annual Congress next week, which will be attended by representatives of the Palestinian, Israeli, Russian, and Ukrainian National Federations, we reaffirm our constant call for dialogue and peace. Sport must unite, never divide.
“Finally, we commend the exemplary work of the Spanish law enforcement agencies at the Vuelta, who acted with professionalism in extremely tense conditions.
“We also thank the organisers of the Vuelta for their commitment and resilience in the face of an unprecedented situation. We congratulate Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the general classification of La Vuelta Ciclista a España 2025. Despite the circumstances, he demonstrated remarkable strength and consistency throughout this event.”
I feel like this one might rumble on for a while…
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Latest Comments
"I promise to make sure that I am seen..." Good luck with that. Hi viz doesn't work for stupid and inobservant, as we all know.
[Stupid comment editor - ignoring line breaks :o( ]
And it's not just the RSA, most Irish motorists believe that if they are barrelling down country roads, in the dark, in the lashing rain, travelling much faster than they can stop in the distance they can see, that if they encounter a pedestrian and only just miss that pedestrian, then it was _the pedestrian's fault_ the driver didn't see them in time cause they weren't wearing high viz. Just check out the number of comments in this insane reddit post backing the bonkers driving of the OP: https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1r7xczz/venting/ Shite driving and victim blaming is utterly normalised now.
Whenever I drive my overlarge car I'll make sure I know where people are And make it all the way safely home By putting away my goddamn phone!
The RSA is _obsessed_ with hiviz. They regularly have campaigns giving out hiviz to pedestrians, to school kids. I am convinced someone high up in the RSA is very good buddies with a hiviz vendor, and is funneling the government money to them in return for kick-backs. Only way to explain the insane level of obsession RSA has with neon-yellow plastic.
"According to the Hi Glo Silver Pledge, children in Ireland’s schools sign up to the following (not legally binding, I assume) agreement: “When I walk or cycle, night or day, after school or when I go to play, I promise to make sure that I am seen, in reflective clothing that is bright orange, yellow, or green.”" This is actually quite dark. How about, "When I drive I'll use my lights, 'cos unlike the dim drivers I'm quite bright, I look out for others because I should and, erm, the end."
This clip on Cycling Mikey's channel states: "The public made 150,000 video allegations across England and Wales in the last year, and most were prosecuted/ 2/3rds from drivers with dashcams, and 1/3rd from cyclists and pedestrians." https://youtu.be/rjnAiHOuIx8?t=113
In the world of work life Health and Safety the Hierarchy of Risk Management Prioritises Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Admin Controls, PPE - PPE is the Least Effective. An Engineering Control would be something built into vehicles that prevent driving when the driver is drunk/drugged up, on the phone, driving too fast, or slow it when approaching a vulnerable road user etc. But moto-normativity leads us to wrap up the non-drivers in brightly coloured clothing and make it illegal for them to go outside if not.
Per yesterday's piece about report submissions to the police... This clip on Cycling Mikey's channel states: "The public made 150,000 video allegations across England and Wales in the last year, and most were prosecuted/ 2/3rds from drivers with dashcams, and 1/3rd from cyclists and pedestrians." https://youtu.be/rjnAiHOuIx8?t=113
When they're not simply using the terms interchangeably, most sources seem to consider the [publicity] 'caravan' to be a subset of the 'convoy', which starts with the police riders ahead of it. A couple even consider there to be multiple 'caravans' within the 'convoy' (the publicity caravan, a caravan of race-related vehicles ahead of the race, another caravan of race-related vehicles behind the race). Given that the words are roughly interchangeable in English ('convoy' just having a slightly more 'organised' connotation to it), plus the element of translation across languages, it's perhaps not surprising if there's no hard and fast rule about how they're applied.
50 thoughts on “UCI denounces Vuelta Palestine protesters’ “militant actions” and blasts Spanish government for “exploiting sport for political purposes”; Ineos rider says protests’ success “very bad for cycling”; Is Tom Pidcock a Tour contender? + more on the live blog”
Plenty of cycle races have
Plenty of cycle races have been stopped and disrupted by protests before this – witness the Glasgow Worlds, and the many incidents where French farmers have protested at le Tour, some of which have resulted in people being punched by Bernard Hinault. So this isn’t new.
I suppose the difference here is that the size, frequency and nature of the protests at la Vuelta had a much greater impact.
Pity Le Blaireau wasn’t there
Pity Le Blaireau wasn’t there it would have made for exciting TV …
Hinault was made for TV
Hinault was made for TV
Luckily hé was good at
Luckily hé was good at cycling too!
.
Depending on your point of
Depending on your point of view, it could be good for the long-term credibility of professional cycling. If petrochem/ethically bankrupt states with appalling human rights records think twice about getting involved, then cycling’s image will improve and the accusations of climate/social hypocrisy will abate.
Dan Jestico wrote:
I got given a Team Ineos cycling cap as the Tour of Britain rolled through. An additional cap is always welcome but I couldn’t imagine wearing one – not only are they a polluting company, they also promote those dangerous large SUVs of theirs. I gave it away within about 30 seconds. I need some sort of anti-car cap!
Oh come now, surely you are
Oh come now, surely you are forgetting how cyclist friendly the Ineos Grenadier is, with it’s extra horn to specifically toot at cyclists?
I read his comments very
I read his comments very carefully and it sounds to me like he’s calling out the UCI and the ASO for not doing something to stop this from happening….i.e. banning IPT from taking part.
But anyone who thinks that a stage being cancelled is something new, only has to look at Tour Féminin de l’Ardeche last week, where stage 2 was cancelled because of the “Block Everything” protests, against the government and it’s spending cuts. Everyone up in arms about La Vuelta and calls for the country to be stripped of all racing, banned….etc have very short memories OR are willfully choosing to ignore everything else because it’s Israel and no-one can say anything bad against the almighty “country”. Infact, in America, you have to be careful, they will remove your passport and visa if you do…. Crazy to think that Zionism has infected the top ranks of most countries and people can’t see that with their own eyes.
IPT exists specifically to
IPT exists specifically to sportswash Israel’s image, and that is a political action.
Cycling can either decide it wants to weigh in on contentious politics, and deal with the legitimate push back of people engaging with their political actions, or refuse the dirty money.
What isn’t reasonable or sustainable is pretending that you can include a team like IPT and then complain that it’s protestors who have “made it political” and that you weren’t doing anything other than enjoying riding bikes.
If you’d have said that ‘UAE,
If you’d have said that ‘UAE, Bahrain Victourius and IPT exist specifically to sportswash their image, and that is a political action’, I’d have said that was a balanced argument, but as you didn’t I imagine you’re just another terrorist apologist waving a Palestinian flag.
If you’d have said that IPT
If you’d have said that IPT are not the only team sponsored by a questionable regime, I’d have considered that a balanced argument. But as you didn’t, I imagine you are a just another gammon faced fascist apologist waving a St Georeg’s flag.
Clem Fandango wrote:
Wait – what? More immigrants and their dubious saints?
He’s teh patron saint of
He’s the patron saint of dyslexics. Back off.
Nice try. But Israel is
Nice try. But Israel is losing support every day they continue to starve children to death. It is foolish of any sport to believe it can cut itself off from the outside world.
Crazyhorse wrote:
dreamlx10]
… and the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Save the Children, B’Tselem, Christian Aid, Jewish Network for Palestine, Physicians for Human Rights Israel…
dreamlx10 wrote:
And Medecins Sans Frontieres, Unicef, Christian Aid, Oxfam…
On the other hand, as far as I can see it is only the people responsible for blockading food and aid to Gaza that deny there is any starvation.
It’s foolish of any pro
It’s foolish of any pro-Palestine protester to believe disrupting a pro cycling race can have an impact on the current situation in Gaza. Sánchez, the Spanish PM, congratulated the protesters for their fight* in favor of human rights. This confirms that this chaotic Vuelta took place thanks to the Spanish authorities laissez-faireism.
*selective fight, one may be allowed to think
MaxiMinimalist wrote:
FTFY?
VoiceOfLondon wrote:
Who the hell appointed you the Voice Of London?
I assume you would like to
I assume you would like to see Russian teams readmitted to cycling too, Putin isn’t so bad, just a bit misunderstood (so Nige and Don say).
I have little time for the UAE or Bahrain regimes, or the damage they do to the environment through their oil exports, but to be comlpetely fair they are not *currently* engaged in genocide.
SimoninSpalding wrote:
A lot of people in Sudan might have something to say on the matter, however…
SimoninSpalding wrote:
To be completely fair they actually are actively involved in genocide or indirectly financing or supporting genocide.
VoiceOfLondon wrote:
Are you genuinely incapable of understanding that one can be appalled at the actions of Hamas on October 7th and fully support the perpetrators of those actions being brought to justice and at the same time be appalled at children queueing up for a cup of water and a handful of flour being shot dead by the Israeli military? If not it says a lot more about you than it does about anybody else. Palestine and the Palestinian people are not Hamas (they only have about 30% support even in Gaza) and showing support and solidarity for the Palestinian people is not supporting Hamas.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Don’t be silly, Rendel. In the weird, Manichean world of the far right, you have to pick a side and support it UNCONDITIONALLY.
This footballification of politics has already destroyed meaningful political discourse in the USA and it will do the same here in the UK of we are not careful.
Eton Rifle wrote:
Well, autocratic types tend to major on demanding loyalty! But given the current topic I’d note that the other side can be equally as tribal / prone to purity tests. But also “The Judean People’s Front vs. The People’s Front of Judea”.
Was / is that Adams’
Was / is that Adams’ motivation? He’s acting in a private capacity with his own money, so this isn’t state-sponsored.
Obviously, there’s a fine line between vanity project with a patriotic edge, vanity project with a commercial rationale which doesn’t obviously stack up (INEOS Grenadiers / MUFC), doing something that looks commercially stupid to get your net worth out of a country where it might be vulnerable to regime change (I’m sure you can guess) and outright going to a PR agency and asking what can be done to boost a poor image (“do lots of charitable things with your dirty money so people love you!”).
Whatever anyone thinks about Israel’s response to the Oct7 attacks, Adams put money into cycling long before then. From what I’ve read, his view on Israel’s response is implied, but the UCI have not specifically asked the question “Look, we know you consider yourself an ambassador at large for Israel, but specifically do you condone *this*? because if so, we’re going to have to have a re-think on your team’s license to operate.” [Yes, there are lots of other sports team owners who should be asked similar questions, and I find it remarkable that Eurovision haven’t taken a stronger line.]
If what *does* prompt the UCI to ask that question is protests disrupting events, then I think we can look forward to a lot more disrupted events so I can see all sides of this one.
My 2c: The UCI are quietly hoping Adams will let discretion be the better part of valour, put some money into ESCROW to keep the team going for a while and walk away. I doubt he will do that without being told, so the TdF Grand Depart in Barcelona next year will be …. interesting.
Not saying this is the case
Not saying this is the case here but there are plenty of examples where states held in less esteem internationally (indeed – sanctioned) conduct state operations through “friends”. Business done by Putin’s friends among the oligarchs and others would be an example.
Probably all states utilise this more- or- less, whether more directly requested or more at the initiative of the individuals.
panda wrote:
In a word, yes. He’s not subtle about this and it isn’t a secret.
Spain has destroyed its
Spain has destroyed its holiday business, and now they are destroying their sport.
Israel has destroyed its
Israel has destroyed its holiday business, and now they are destroying our sport.
(Not just Israel, btw, but their actions in Gaza are beyond extreme.)
(No subject)
Has it? Blimey, that was
Has it? Blimey, that was quick – I only came back from holiday there on Friday! Must have just got through the airport in time…
“You can’t just pretend
“You can’t just pretend nothing is happening.
“
From now on, it’s clear for everyone that a cycling race can be used as an effective stage for protests andnext time it will only get worse, because someone allowed it to happen and looked the other way.”He could be talking about the cause of the protests there. And that is why protest happens – people won’t look the other way.
Suggesting the cow is
Suggesting the cow is protesting about Palestine is silly.
It clearly has some other beef entirely.
mdavidford wrote:
It’s important to get these things right when so much is at steak. As Mr.B.Simpson would say, don’t have a cow, man.
Rendel Harris wrote:
This is getting udderly ridiculous.
I’m on thé horns of a dilemma
I’m on thé horns of a dilemma concerning thé situation
With regards to the bins in
With regards to the bins in the cycle lane, it might be better to lay them down on their side rather than upright as that would provide just a bit more segregation.
Either lengthwise along the road, or sideways.
Worth doing a bit about this:
Worth doing a bit about this:
“On patrol with the company recovering stolen bikes“
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9jn5jn204o
Isn’t Guadalajara in Mexico?
Isn’t Guadalajara in Mexico?
Full marks to the bull though, and that’s without full traction!
There’s more than one
There’s more than one Guadalajara. Just like there is a London in Ontario.
panda wrote:
It’s a city in Mexico but also a province in Spain which contains the municipality of Tendilla, from which the video comes.
Given Mexico was colonised by
Given Mexico was colonised by the Spanish, I would guess the one was named after the other?
Jetmans Dad wrote:
Indeed, the chap who conquered that part of Mexico (name escapes me) came from Guadalajara in Spain so when they founded the city it was named after his home region in his honour.
Wow – I’m amazed to find
Wow – I’m amazed to find myself agreeing with the UCI. Good on them. Politicians are always the bane of life’s existence. That and terrorist states with their selfish and ignorant sympathisers.
Some perspective? So what
Some perspective? So what happens next year when protesters demanded all Jewish riders be banned from the race unless they denounce Israel?
cmedred wrote:
then, at that point, we denounce the protesters’ racism. Which is not a charge that could reasonably be laid at this point.
cmedred wrote:
And what about when they ask for all black, Asian and homosexual riders to be banned as well? What about, what about, what about…shall we address the here and now issues, which are grave and vexing enough for all parties, without making up future ones?
It is just a disgrace that
It is just a disgrace that people are trying to drag politics into the family of olympic sports – just ask any Russian. Disrupting the Vuelta to protest the presence of the I.G. Farben – Third Reich team will not achieve anything for the unfortunate Jews in Germany.