"I ask that the riders not be assaulted" - Israel - Premier DS Guerrro pleads for end of violence and death threats against himself and the riders

Israel - Premier Tech's sports director Óscar Guerrero has spoken about the team's current situation after the events that are unfolding at the Vuelta a Espana. The team isn't leaving the race and although he sympatizes with the protestors, the staff and riders are afraid and under constant barrage of insults and threats on the road.

In an interview on Onda Cero's 'Radioestadio noche' program, Israel's sports director, Óscar Guerrero, wanted to give his version of events and the point of view of the directors and team riders with the following message: "I understand the protests but I ask that the riders not be assaulted".

"I'm taking it very badly ... You suffer insults, all kinds of verbal attacks .... It's hard for us, but we are a professional team and we can't say we're leaving because the same thing could happen to us in another race," he said in an interview with Onda Cero.

Although the organization of La Vuelta yesterday suggested that the best thing for the safety of all is that Israel could take a step back and leave, it is something that is ruled out (more after receiving the support of the UCI): "We have prepared very well for La Vuelta and our idea is to go to the end".

With the UCI taking a stance of neutrality, the race organizers follow suit and no decision is taken to remove the team from the race, as expected. The only way for this to happen is most likely due to pressure that may come from other teams. Equally, most do not want to blame the riders and staff, or have them take the consequences.

He insists on the reason for not quitting: "If we decided to quit we would create a precedent for other cases with different reasons in which there would be protests against other teams.... We have prepared very well for La Vuelta and our idea is to go all the way to the end."

And, as he said after the team time trial in Figueres in which a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators cut them off, he speaks of "fear" on the part of his riders: "Of course we are having a bad time, they insult us, they verbally attack us.... The riders are afraid". The next few days are set to see more organized protests, and with the "success" of the Bilbao demonstration, it is likely that these will get even more bold and potentially jeopardize the peloton once again.

In stage 10 there already were protestors moving into a high-speed peloton which led to a crash and pleads on social media from riders for this not to happen. This Wednesday a disaster may have only been avoided due to the heavy police and staff presence at the finish line in Bilbao, as dozens tried to break through the barriers with the peloton in sight on the first passage through the finish line.

On what could happen between now and the end of the Vuelta with the demonstrations, Óscar Guerrero was optimistic: "We knew that Bilbao was the hottest point of all. I hope that from here things will be much smoother".

He speaks of death threats against the time, not applying to its officials but to staff and riders on the road. "We have received death threats, we are afraid. We don't want them to attack the team. This is a sports team, they are mixing things up".

He does not want to comment on the Israeli genocide in Gaza: "It is irresponsible for me to express my opinion on what is happening in Gaza. I have my way of thinking, but this is not the time. I am not happy with what I am seeing and there are also a lot of people within the team who are not happy with what is happening in Gaza."