Following all three of Jumbo-Visma's leaders crossing the line safely on stage 18, one soigneur was unceremoniously tackled and floored by a trio of Spanish Police, something he still feels the affects of days later.
“He is doing quite well, but he still needs to take it easy. He can't remember much either. We are treated like hooligans,” another Jumbo-Visma soigneur reveals to HLN as the team launch an official complaint against the officers.
At the scene of the incident were many witnesses, including a Soudal- Quick-Step employee who shared his view of the events, also to HLN. “We were aggressively pushed aside, with all the consequences that entailed. They pushed us behind the crowd barriers, but of course we can't get to the riders there," he recalls. "It was bizarre and not done . I've never experienced anything like this before. I suffered a sprain in my arm.”
This wasn't the first incident of such unnecessary force being used by overzealous officers at this Vuelta either after a Cofidis soigneur received similar treatment after celebrating the stage win of Jesus Herrada.
Situación en el final de etapa. La policía intentando poner orden, empujó a un auxiliar del Jumbo mientras asistía a los corredores. La situación se puso tensa y terminaron en el suelo. El asistente no fue detenido, pero se vivió un momento desagradable. #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/WRKvhsKRcX
— Marcelo La Gattina (@MLaGattina) September 14, 2023