"Is he the king of the Vuelta?" - Israel - Premier Tech DS calls out Matteo Jorgenson for pressuring team into leaving

The Vuelta a Espana 2025 is experiencing one of its most turbulent editions in recent memory, as political tension spills over into the race. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been demanding the withdrawal of Israel Premier Tech, arguing that the team’s participation politicizes the event. The situation reached a dramatic climax during the stage finishing in Bilbao, which was so heavily disrupted that it could not be completed. In the aftermath, both the organizers and some teams privately acknowledged that the only way to guarantee safety for riders and spectators might be for the Israeli squad to abandon the race.

Amid this tense backdrop, a war of words has broken out between Daryl Impey, sports director of Israel Premier Tech, and Matteo Jorgenson of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Impey strongly defended his team’s right to remain in the competition. “People can say what they want, but we are going to continue all the way to Madrid. Simple. We try to focus on what we are: a cycling team,” he said in words to Flobikes.

Impey added that the riders had received plenty of support within the peloton, though opinions were divided. “We actually feel a lot of support. And the riders from other teams? Some support us, some don’t… In the CPA WhatsApp group, Matteo Jorgenson is the most vocal. Maybe you should ask him what he thinks about it.”

He went further, accusing Jorgenson of politicizing the issue. “We are a sports team and we don’t mix this with politics, but for him apparently it is. He’s basically saying we should leave the other riders behind. Is he the king of the Vuelta? Maybe he can add something about that.”

Jorgenson responded with evident frustration, criticizing Impey for making private exchanges public. “You are talking about messages in a private group of riders. I think it’s inappropriate to make it public in the media. That clearly shows the position he takes,” he said.

He declined to expand on his views, adding only: “I don’t have much more to say about it, and I already shared my opinion when it was relevant.”

Impey’s decision to reveal internal conversations has drawn criticism from many observers, who see it as crossing a line. While it is understandable that he wishes to defend the interests of his team, airing confidential exchanges from a private forum is widely regarded as unacceptable and damaging to the riders’ collective trust.

Despite the storm, the race has continued. After the chaotic scenes in Bilbao, the demonstrations in Cantabria were peaceful, allowing the stage to unfold without interruption. Now, the Vuelta enters a decisive stretch in Asturias, with the legendary climb of the Angliru on Friday, September 5, followed by Saturday’s summit finish at La Farrapona. These back-to-back mountain stages are expected to define the general classification battle, though the specter of political protest still lingers.