Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria made a direct call for Israeli teams to be banned from such sporting events. She goes straight for Israel-Premier Tech in her call to action. Her statement comes as strong rider representation continues at the Vuelta a España. The legislation has been met with massive demonstrations throughout Spain since the moment it was announced. The calls for a ban are reminiscent of the swift exclusion of all Russian teams that was seen after that country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Israel-Premier Tech, a controversial private cycling team owned by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, is proving to be disruptive in the ongoing Vuelta a España. Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the team, though he’s met with intense pushback. This team has sparked one of the largest series of protests in Spain. As demonstrators across the world are passionately seeking to stop Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza,
Alegria spoke to the ongoing protests that have recently disrupted multiple stages of the Vuelta. Because of this, stages 11 and 16 were reduced, and a time trial on Thursday was cancelled for safety reasons. She reminded everyone that the closing stage on Sunday will be in Madrid. It’s sure to draw thousands of protestors.
I know that the continuing genocide and massacre that we are living through day by day is so horrifying. Like you, I stand with the athletes in calling for international federations and international committees to take the same line that they did in 2022, said Alegria. This parallels her previous remarks on the need for sports to address geopolitical issues, saying, “So it is important that sport, given this situation, takes a position at least similar to what it did against Russia.”
The Spanish government has officially condemned Israel’s brutal offensive in Gaza. As described by one human rights defender, it was “a genocide” after this latest escalation which left thousands dead on both sides. The reports go on to state that Israel’s ongoing bombardment has resulted in the killing of at least 64,600 Palestinians, the majority of those killed being civilians. Alegria has described the current protests as “logical.” They are a measure of the public’s apprehension over the disadvantages of the protracted war.
What’s happening right now with the organizing around these protests is actually very smart, I would say. She remarked. She expressed her hope that the Vuelta could be completed safely but acknowledged the potential disruption caused by ongoing demonstrations: “It would not be good news if the race cannot finish.”
Alegria wants to see the Vuelta organizers prevent Israel-Premier Tech from participating. As much as she might like this decision, it’s really not hers to make. That belongs to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s governing body.
With protests defying the harsh crackdown and increasingly tense standoffs continuing across the country, the situation is changing rapidly. The final result of the Vuelta will be determined by how each team rides. That depends on the larger geopolitical context that shapes sports and geopolitics.
