Cycling in chaos: Schachmann strongly condemns Vuelta protests!

Cycling in chaos: Schachmann strongly condemns Vuelta protests!

The Vuelta a España, one of the most prestigious cycling races, is currently facing extraordinary challenges. In recent days, the race has been marred by violent pro-Palestinian protests, threatening the safety of riders and the running of the event. This situation not only caused excitement among the athletes, but also led to the final stage being canceled early.

Maximilian Schachmann, a prominent professional cyclist from Berlin, expressed his incomprehension about the behavior of the demonstrators. He described the events as absurd after demonstrators ultimately intervened and even attacked drivers last weekend. In Madrid, more than 100,000 people demonstrated against Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip, which significantly disrupted the Vuelta. Schachmann emphasized that he did not want to trivialize the situation in the Middle East, but did not support the violence and disruption in sport. “Demonstrations must remain peaceful,” said the Berliner. Schachmann warned that such incidents could jeopardize the safety of drivers and the integrity of the sport.

Protests and security

The protests were not only expressed at the last stage. Already during the eleventh stage, the race directors had to make a decision due to massive disruptions: the section ended without a winner because demonstrators stormed the route. On the 16th stage, around 150 activists blocked the road and even felled a tree, which led to the route being shortened by eight kilometers. In total, around 1,000 demonstrators were present, which raised questions about the safety of the professional cyclists.

Vuelta boss Javier Guillén initially stated that there was no plan B and that the race would continue despite the increasing difficulties. But the pressure on the organizers is growing, and as n-tv.de reports, some responsible people have considered withdrawing teams, such as the controversial Israel-Premier-Tech, due to the pressure. The word “Israel” has already been removed from the team’s jerseys, illustrating the public pressure on the race management.

Reactions and outlook

The organizers of the Vuelta and the world cycling body UCI have spoken out clearly against the violence and stressed that safety is the top priority. There were reports of injuries among security forces, with four police officers injured in these tumultuous scenes. The UCI had previously underlined the political neutrality of sport and emphasized that sport plays a peacemaking role. In the neutral zone, the professional cyclists found themselves in a dangerous situation before they had to call the police for help to clear the road, as jungewelt.de highlights.

The Vuelta a España continues to face challenges this season and Schachmann expressed hope that a solution to the conflicts in the Middle East will be found by the off-season. He hopes for a quick end to the disputes, especially for cycling, which should promote a comfortable coexistence between fans and athletes. The question remains, however, what the future of the tour will look like in an increasingly politicized environment.