The organisers of the Vuelta a España have confirmed that Thursday’s stage 18 individual time trial in Valladolid will be reduced from its original 27.2 kilometres to just 12.2 kilometres. The decision was taken late on Wednesday following security concerns, with further protests expected along the route.
In a statement, the race explained: “With the aim of ensuring greater protection for the stage, the organisers of La Vuelta, in coordination with Valladolid City Council and following consultation with the College of Commissaires, have decided that tomorrow’s time trial will be contested over a 12.2-kilometre route, with the start and finish remaining as originally planned.”
The move comes after a series of disruptions during this year’s race. Pro-Palestine protests have repeatedly targeted the event, with demonstrators focusing on the presence of Israel-Premier Tech, a team whose co-owner, Sylvan Adams, has described himself as a “self-appointed ambassador-at-large for Israel”. Although the team has no official links to the Israeli government, its riders have been directly affected by protests on multiple occasions.
Stage 5 saw protestors briefly block the team during the opening team time trial, while stage 11 in Bilbao was halted inside the final 3km and declared void after activists blocked the road. On stage 16, the finish line was shifted mid-race to the 8km-to-go banner after another large protest. More recently, riders have also faced dangerous incidents, including a tree felled across the road before the peloton’s arrival.
Photo Credit: GettySpanish authorities have pledged a major police presence in Valladolid, with 300 officers and 150 private security guards initially allocated, now reinforced by a further 450 officers. Valladolid remains on high alert, as organisers attempt to ensure the race can continue safely through to Madrid on Sunday.
Riders have also voiced their concerns. Before stage 17, won by Giulio Pellizzari, the peloton voted to neutralise racing in the event of further disruption. Pascal Chanteur of the CPA riders’ union confirmed that they would not rule out abandoning the race entirely if security deteriorates further.
Bahrain Victorious rider Jack Haig explained the mood in the bunch: “We decided that if there is an incident, we would try to neutralise the race, and then that would be it because in the end racing to an undefined finish line is not really fair sport. Unfortunately, we’re being caught in the middle of something that maybe doesn’t even really involve us, and at the moment we are kind of just the pawns in a very large chess game that unfortunately is affecting us.”
He added that while riders want to reach Madrid, safety has to come first. “I think everyone would quite like to arrive in Madrid [for stage 21], but we need it to happen in a fair way where riders are safe.”
Stage 18 is scheduled to begin at 14:35 local time (13:35 UK), with all eyes now on whether the curtailed time trial can proceed without further interruption.
