The return Spain is sport. But Also show. Its stages are followed by thousands of cycling fans inside and outside the country and generate an expectation that (in a way) is not very different from that of football, basketball or tennis. What is different is their deployment: cyclists do not compete on courts or stadiums, but in open paths of hundreds and hundreds of kilometers, which converts each of its stages into a fantastic showcase to throw messages of all kinds.
And so It was clear yesterday In Bilbao, where the day was marked by the protests of fans who denounced Gaza’s genocide coinciding with the participation in the Israel-First Tech test, a team of Hebrew origin.
What happened? That international politics has entered fully (and with controversy included) in the Tour of Spain. In view of The protests Against the Palestine genocide that were deployed yesterday in Bilbao to the passage of cyclists, the organization decided Finish the stage three kilometers before the goal. There were no winners. Not of course podium. Nor were points for classification.
The idea was for the day to start and end in the ‘Botxo’, but the protests of hundreds of fansthat tensioned nerves in various moments of the day, led the organizers to take a radical measure to “protect all runners” and the team. “The return respects and defends the right to peaceful manifestation (…), but cannot tolerate acts that put at risk the physical integrity of the participants or any member of the caravan”, They warned last night.
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What was the trigger? The participation of Israel-First Techan Israeli team of the UCI proteam category in the hands of Sylvan Adamsa Canadian-Israeli businessman closely linked to sport and that He has not hidden His tuning with Netanyahu. The presence of the team in the Vuelta It has generated controversy And he mobilized yesterday to protesters contrary to Gaza’s genocide, who dedicated themselves to launching octavillas, raising flags and pushing fences marking the competition.
Almost at the exit a group of protesters deployed a banner on the road in which “Destroy Israel” could be read and later in Morga, Precise The mailseveral strangers crossed straw bundles on the track, which forced a mobile brigade. Beyond the strictly sports, the afternoon resulted in Three detaineesfive people identified and four hertzianas injured.
What has the return said? Ha “condemned” What happened in Bilbao and justifies his decision recalling that his “absolute priority” is to guarantee the safety of cyclists. Officially the organization has not wanted to go further, but who has done so It is the technical director, Kiko García, who After remembering That the regulation prevents the return to expel the Israelis left the ball by driving the Adams roof, especially to avoid more incidents in the remainder of competition.
“If you are going to continue in the race? We have transmitted our feel He reflected.
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Have there been more reactions? Yes. And they go in a different direction. The International Cycling Union (UCI) published yesterday A statement in which he insists on the neutrality of competitions and “the unifying and peaceful role” of sport, so he is sharp: “The ICU reaffirms its commitment to the political neutrality, independence and autonomy of sport and expresses its solidarity and support for teams.” Nor for pressure on first tech, which already He has made clear that will continue pedaling. “Any other action would sit a dangerous precedent.”
What is the background problem? That in certain aspects cycling is very similar to other mass sports, but in others it is totally different. And that has become a teeth pain for the return. The Spanish competition is a media show that follow newspapers, broadcasters and televisions, is commented on networks, generates news and is usually under the media focus. After all, Spain’s return is one of The big appointments of discipline in Europe and connects with the cycling fans of much of the country, including Bilbao.
So far nothing that also does not happen with football, basketball or tennis. The peculiarity of cycling is that athletes compete in wide and open scenarios, kilometers and more kilometers of roads with gutters, urban stretches, homes … an itinerary in which organizers find it difficult to maintain total control, as was evident in Bilbao. In total, Tour 25 will be divided into 21 stages that will cover a distance from 3,151 kilometers Until September 14. That is, there are days of competition and kilometers of layout.
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Is it something new? No. Yesterday’s episode has been parcticularly media by its background, its protagonists and connect with a theme as hot as Gaza’s genocide, but the cycling world has been aware for years of how complicated the organizers are to control the routes. Result? The great competitions have a huge capacity for social penetration (cities take advantage of the return as Tourist showcase), but it is also an effective advertising platform to launch messages of all kinds.
Are there more cases? Yes. Cycling has been used for some time as a means of vindication or to share messages. One of the most emblematic resources are The graffiti On the roads, on the asphalt itself, where all kinds of proclamations have been read. Last year, without going any further, the neighbors of Ancares took advantage of the return to claim more medical assistance. As? Painting “Ancares needs a doctor” In the middle of a road. There the organizers, the fans … and the rest of the country.
In other ports and editions they have been painted claiming More infrastructurea Better coverage Telephone in rural areas or messages sportsamong others. In 2018 the organizers even found proclamations in favor of ETA prisoners Sharbateadas directly in the cars of the official caravan, although probably the intervention more famous Of all it was the one who dedicated himself in his day to the daughter of former president José María Aznar.
Can it be controlled? The organizers will have it complicated, as Kiko García himself implies. Today The faradio publishes That Cantabria has dawned with painted roads through which the return will pass with messages in favor of Palestine and against the crisis in Gaza.
Not only are painted used. In 2023 the Mossos opened an investigation After meeting chinches on the road during the celebration of the return in Barcelona, a boycott form that It has been used also in Other countries. Last year, during the Paris Games, a group of French fans also waves Palestinian flags and handkerchiefs of “free Palestine” during A cycling tournament. Those who pedal get medals. Those who take advantage of competitions to launch their messages obtain worldwide impact.
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