"The Israeli team riders are the first to not want to be part of this problem" Carlos Verona assures

The Vuelta a Espana is going through unprecedented and difficult days as the anti-Israel protests intensify and threaten the peloton. The race organizers do not expel Israel - Premier Tech from the race and the UCI refuses to take action, all the meanwhile a small percentage of the protestors become more and more aggressive towards the riders, creating a very tense situation for everyone.

After the stage, many Spanish riders, former pros, staff and pundits commented on the topic that has taken over the race and is likely to do so over the coming days - as the Israeli team is not leaving the race, for the time being. From within the peloton there is insight that its riders do not want to be part of the problem and have been receiving death threats according to DS Óscar Guerrero.

After there was an attempt to push through the barriers in the finishing straight in Bilbao, the riders's safety at the finish line could not be ensured despite the heavy police presence, and there was no stage winner declared as a result of a last-minute neutralization.

"It's a shame that politics interferes at a stage like today. I'm in favor of trying to keep the sport as neutral as possible. Everyone has the right to protest, but it shouldn't disrupt the work of others," Verona argued in words to Eurosport.

Within the peloton not much is known on the riders' opinions, as most try to stay out of the controversial topic. "There were discussions within the peloton about the Israel-Premier Tech team continuing to race, and the Israeli team riders are the first to not want to be part of this problem."

"There have always been some kind of demonstration, and in the end, it's always the same people, the ones who join in every single one, often without even knowing the reason," he argued in Marca. "It's fine that they demonstrate peacefully, but today they were aggressive. They're in every single one. It's a shame, because it was the stage with the most fans and it could have been the best of this Vuelta a España."

The former World Champion did not hold back when criticizing those who have endangered the riders and are actively staining the Vuelta's spectacle. "Now I'm watching the cyclists go by, and there are people here who really like cycling and they're applauding. It's sad that a few spoil the party."

"At first, the organizers didn't want to make that decision, but today they were forced to. Those who were at the finish tomorrow might approach the start. You can't race like that; the Vuelta a España wants to be a spectacle, and you can't race like this. The focus was where the mess was. They're the typical hippies who go to every stage and all they're looking for is fights. They were laughing, then they were aggressive... it's something that doesn't normally happen."

“During the race, people demonstrated peacefully with flags. We were safe at all times, and the security forces were phenomenal," the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe shared with the Eurosport. But he understood the reason for the neutralization. However although the peloton was kept safe in that passage, the risk was too high in the final lap.

"The peloton's first crossing of the finish line was a source of fear for the safety of the riders," he argued, with videos on social media later reinforcing that stance as dozens tried to break through the barriers.