2025 Vuelta a Espana

[Jeremy McCreary]

Sadly, just heard that Campenaerts withdrew due to illness yesterday. Big loss for Visma and the race in general. Not many riders have that kind of strength, personality, and innovative spirit.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Race organizers face an impossible situation now. They can't just 3D-print hundreds of extra trained cops to secure even the 27 km time trial. Calling in troops may or may not be an option under Spanish law.

Spain is a democracy and democracies tend not to call out the army on street protestors. Also Spain like Ireland has come out strongly against this genocide. Just yesterday the Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said "Israel is ‘exterminating a defenceless people" and announced a raft of measures to try to force Bibi to end this war (good luck with that). I expect both in the Basque Country and Catalonia, Palestinian support will be very high, as it is among the riders in the peloton with Jonas making his statement of support yesterday. The problem for the Vuelta organisers is they can't kick out Israel PT, that power lies with the UCI and like the Olympic committee they are being very slow to engage. Somewhat hypocritical as Russia has been (rightly) banned since 22 and the start of that terrible war. For the Olympic committee with the LA Olympics on the horizon I guess they are afraid of Trump and his unpredictable reactions. For the UCI? They seem to be just useless as ever, more concerned about handlebar width.

Anyway street protests, striking workers blocking the road, any and all seeking the TV cameras for publicity for their cause is a habitual problem that as cycling races take place on public roads and are free to watch they get hijacked for protest. The sport is just very vulnerable to protests. Been this way for decades. Hinault and other riders ploughing into striking workers in a massive fist fight in the 80s was a startling image back in the day!

 

[Chargeride]

Cylists have week arms , lets blockade the race and....oof, vers me teef?

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Cylists have week arms , lets blockade the race and....oof, vers me teef?

Le Blaireau ("The Badger") was a farmer from Brittany ( Where a lot of the French Foreign Legion were recruited) He apparently sped up and ploughed into the striking workers blocking the road without touching the brakes! Love Phil Anderson in that photo as well, tough Aussie in the middle of the fray!

 

[Chargeride]

Took striking workers literaly