Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 3 months ago

Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English

Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Transcript
00:01Protesters blocked the cycling race from the very start of the stage,
00:06forcing riders to cycle around a banner which they held up in the middle of the road.
00:11And at the finish line in Bilbao, the race was called off as police confronted the protesters.
00:17Cycling times were frozen three kilometres from the finish line and no stage winner was declared.
00:25I think sport is there to bring joy to people.
00:27I understand that we are going through a very difficult time that is causing all of us to suffer.
00:32I hope it doesn't affect the Vuelta.
00:34Police eventually contained the protesters and several officers were injured in the process.
00:39Waving Basque and Palestinian flags,
00:42protesters denounced the current situation in the Gaza Strip
00:46and more specifically targeted Israel Premier Tek,
00:49a cycling team in the race founded by a close associate of Benjamin Netanyahu.
00:54On the one hand, I like cycling, but people's lives are more important.
00:59The cyclists' union has condemned what it calls actions that endangered their riders' safety,
01:06but the public remains divided.
01:08I agree with them that what's happening in Palestine is a disaster,
01:13and I'm in favour of fighting for Palestinian rights, but not like this.
01:18Pro-Palestinian protests have already disrupted major cycling events this year,
01:23including the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia,
01:26but these incidents have been more frequent in Spain,
01:29a country known for its strong support of the Palestinian cause.
01:32During a previous stage of the Vuelta, activists specifically tried to block the Israel Premier Tek riders in the race.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment

Recommended