In WhatsApp messages seen by Escape Collective, multiple riders in the Vuelta a España peloton have called on Israel-Premier Tech to drop out of the Spanish Grand Tour, and the technical director for the race has also come out in favor of the squad's departure.
The requests – from a riders-only chat group that was confirmed as legitimate by one participant – come amid increasing tension at the Vuelta, where organizers neutralized stage 11 on Wednesday 3 km from the finish as pro-Palestinian protestors massed at the line in Bilbao. It was not the first instance of protestors impacting the race, and there is little reason to believe that the disruptions will stop as the race continues.
Jonny Long
Accordingly, riders on other teams are asking Israel-Premier Tech to pull out of the Vuelta.
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