The protests in favor of Palestine sabotage the end of the stage in the Tour of Spain.
Photo: AFP and Ineos
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Stage 16 of the Tour of Spain was marked by an unprecedented outcome: the organization was forced to cut the route in the absence of eight kilometers due to the protests in favor of Palestine that blocked the road in the final stretch.
Manifesters occupied the access to the goal, which made it impossible to guarantee the safety of cyclists and spectators. The decision, taken urgent, moved the line of arrival to the repect before the goal.
Over there, Egan Bernal beat Mikel Landa and won the first triumph of his career in the Iberian Round.
Palestine protests mark the return
It is not the first time in this edition of the Iberian Round that the race is altered by incidents of this type. In previous days, there were also demonstrations that interrupted the normal development of the race, with corridors and teams expressing concern about the lack of guarantees. These episodes have turned back into a visible scenario for political claims, especially during their passage through areas with a large influx of public.
The situation has generated a strong debate between organizers and local authorities, which recognize the difficulty of controlling each point of the tour in such an extensive test. The risk not only affects the competitiveness of the race, but also the integrity of athletes, forced to live with the uncertainty of not knowing if they can complete the day.
Facing the closure of the competition, the alarms are on. Warnings about possible sabotage attempts in the final stage in Madrid are already circulating, scheduled for this Sunday. The organization reinforces security measures, but the doubt persists on whether it will be enough to avoid new incidents that tarnish the conclusion of one of the three greats of world cycling.
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