Did the Spanish government allow the pro-Palestinian protests? Pello Bilbao defends decisions and criticizes UCI and fellow riders

Before adding a new chapter to the Vuelta soap opera, let’s recap, because a lot has already been said and written since the end of the Grand Tour. The mayor of Madrid explained that the demonstrators were violent in his city and that stopping the stage had been the only option. Riders shared how frightening the entire Vuelta had been.

Vuelta boss Javier Guillén said at a press conference that he had openly considered excluding Israel–Premier Tech, but added that the UCI did not allow it. Analysts suggested looking beyond just the Gaza situation, pointing out that cycling, with its many questionable sponsors, is extremely vulnerable to political protests.

Among the riders, Michal Kwiatkowski took the lead, stating that doing nothing achieves nothing. “If the UCI and the responsible authorities couldn’t make the right decisions in time, then in the long run it’s very bad for cycling that the demonstrators succeeded in getting what they wanted,” wrote the Pole.

But the UCI claimed it bore no blame in the whole situation. On Monday, the cycling federation issued a statement pointing the finger at the Spanish government, which, according to them, had allowed all the demonstrations during the Vuelta to take place. The UCI did, however, praise the race organization: “They acted with exemplary professionalism, respecting the autonomy and independence of sport.”

The Spanish government, led by the prime minister, came off far worse. They were singled out as responsible for all those Vuelta protests, accused of actively supporting them both in word and deed. “The UCI strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government.”

“This position is contradictory to the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace,” the statement continued. “It also calls into question Spain's ability to host major international sporting events, ensuring that they take place in safe conditions and in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter."

In Spain, the Council of Sport (CSD) issued a public response: “Sport cannot remain detached from what is happening in the world.” They said they were proud of the Spanish people. “Using sport to whitewash a genocide such as the one in Gaza is a political stance that goes against the Olympic Charter and the fundamental values of sport.”

The CSD stressed that Spain is capable of organizing major events and turned the tables on the UCI: “It is surprising that nowhere is the Netanyahu government being asked to stop the massacre and barbarity against the Palestinian people. This reality should force them to react with the same strength as in 2022 regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

The Spanish government received backing from within the peloton via Pello Bilbao. The Bahrain Victorious rider voiced his anger in Sport: “I’m surprised you’re only asking me about this now. I don’t know what we’re waiting for, because what’s happening in Gaza is genocide. If the competent authorities had made a decision before the Vuelta, the protests could have been avoided.”

And according to Bilbao, the competent authority is the UCI. “It’s hard for me to say I want Israel–Premier Tech out of the peloton, because I have former teammates and acquaintances there with whom I get along very well. It’s a complicated situation, and they are suffering from it too. But I don’t understand the hypocrisy of the UCI, because with the Russian team Gazprom they made a different decision.”

“The UCI and the Spanish government should have seen this coming, then nothing that happened in the Vuelta would have happened,” Bilbao said firmly. “Do more riders feel this way? Maybe they’re not as radical as I am, but I’d say the majority of the peloton thinks the same. But no one is as outspoken as I am, because it’s easier to just keep quiet.”