Vuelta issues statement: Rumors about final stage in Madrid dismissed

“During last Sunday's stage, someone was arrested for suddenly driving onto the road while cyclists were passing by. This even forced a Guardia Civil officer to intervene to prevent this action, which resulted in the crash of Movistar rider Javier Romo,” Guillén explained.

“This type of action cannot be tolerated; we are already seeing the consequences; it causes physical injury to the riders. This jeopardizes the safety of the cyclists, but also that of the public and the perpetrator,” the director said in a statement shared with the international media.

"That is why we must call for such incidents never to happen again. We have seen what happens, and we naturally express our recognition once again of everyone's right to demonstrate peacefully during the Vuelta. What we cannot do is allow this type of action that jeopardizes the safety of cyclists. The riders just want to race, and we are doing everything we can to guarantee that," the Spaniard continued.

“Of course, we are working together with the state security forces and agencies, whom we thank at all times for all the services they provide us, which are of course exclusively aimed at protecting cyclists so that they can race normally,” concludes Guillén, who also confirms that, despite rumors, the final stage in Madrid will go ahead as planned. Various groups have already announced actions and protests for that stage as well.