"Ensure any protests do not impact our safety" - Israel - Premier Tech issue statement after team time-trial controversy

As had happened at the Giro d'Italia - and the Tour de France, albeit to a less dangerous degree - anti-Israel protestors have taken action during the Vuelta a Espana's fifth stage. In the team time-trial to Figueres, the main story of the day didn't end up being the stage results themselves, but the road blocking that specifically targetted, successfully, Israel - Premier Tech. The team has issued a statement on the matter.

"Israel - Premier Tech respects everyone's right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest peacefully," the team shared in a post that simultaneously did not allow for comments - with the exception of the X accounts the team followed. "But we absolutely condemn the dangerous acts of the protesters on stage 5 of the Vuelta a España which not only compromised the safety of our riders, race personel, but the protesters themselves".

According to Daniel Friebe, riders were instructed to not talk to the media after the stage, and to await the team's collective statement. During their TTT, the Israeli team came face to face with give protestors who had a full road-block ongoing with flags and their own feet on the road. Carefully planned, the incident had it's effect, stopping the team on it's tracks in a flat road and affecting their final time. The team ultimately finished the day 54 seconds behind UAE Team Emirates - XRG in 19th place.

"The team continues to work with the race organizers and relevant authorities to ensure our safety at the Vuelta a España and all races, and ensure any protests do not impact our safety, not our right to race". It will soon be known what has happened to the protestors after the passing of the riders, but it is known that race director Javier Guillén is aiming to take action against them due to the nature of the protest.