{"id":111540,"date":"2025-09-03T13:10:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T13:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/111540\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T13:10:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T13:10:09","slug":"pro-palestinian-protest-causes-rider-to-crash-at-vuelta-a-espana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/111540\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro-Palestinian Protest Causes Rider to Crash at Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"

“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”><\/p>\n

Pro-Palestinian protesters hit the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a> again on Tuesday, and this time they caused a rider to crash.<\/p>\n

Video clips from Tuesday\u2019s stage 10<\/a> show dozens of flag-waving protesters pushing in on the approaching peloton during the 175km stage to Belagua.<\/p>\n

Police tried to push back the protesters, with some even swinging batons to hold them back, but several activists charged into the speeding peloton.<\/p>\n

The disruption caused Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty<\/a> rider Simone Petilli to be knocked off his bike in the mayhem as riders swerved and braked to avoid the mob.<\/p>\n

The Italian did not appear seriously injured, and he was not mentioned in the post-stage medical report. He finished the stage and sits 100th overall.<\/p>\n

There was no immediate reaction from Petilli or his team.<\/p>\n

Nouvelle manifestation propalestinienne sur la 10e \u00e9tape de la Vuelta. Des manifestants ont notamment tent\u00e9 de traverser la route pendant le passage des coureurs. L\u2019Italien Simone Petilli (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty) serait tomb\u00e9 lors de cette s\u00e9quence. #LesRP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lAPXSGM6dX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) September 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Tensions could be high in Spain\u2019s Basque Country
\n\"crashIntermarch\u00e9\u2019s Petilli was knocked to the ground. (Photo: Eurosport)<\/p>\n

Tuesday\u2019s incident is the latest in growing tension as activists and protesters target the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a and the participation of Israel-Premier Tech<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The team \u2014 owned by Israeli investor Sylvan Adams but without direct support from the Israeli government \u2014 has become a target of activists who are protesting the ongoing war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Protesters disrupted last week\u2019s team time trial<\/a> in Figueres when they forced IPT riders to slow down and, in some cases, come to a complete stop when they tried to block the road.<\/p>\n

The team has since been avoiding the pre-stage sign-in protocol, and riders have not been speaking to the media.<\/p>\n

Also read: \u2018Our riders are shaken up\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Tensions could be high in Wednesday\u2019s 11th stage across the Basque Country, one of Spain\u2019s most politically charged regions.<\/p>\n

Left-wing political parties EH Bildu and Podemos are making public calls for more protests during the stage that loops around Bilbao.<\/p>\n

Citing safety reasons, race officials have supported the right to protest but urged activists not to disrupt the peloton during the race.<\/p>\n