"We can't expel a team" - La Vuelta director on direct calls to expel Israel - Premier Tech; Pogacar and Evenepoel

Due to Israel's rampaging destruction in the Gaza strip over the past years, more and more the Israel - Premier Tech team has been target of criticism, protests and calls for it's removal from specific events. That has been no exception for this upcoming Vuelta a España but race director Javier Guillén has answered that the race will not remove the ProTeam from it's startlist.

In an interview with EFE, Guillén has talked through a multitude of subjects. Regarding the Israeli team however his words are stern, even after both Giro d'Italia and Tour de France saw very active protestors take the spotlight in certain moments, for the worst of reasons however. At the Giro d'Italia, it even had a direct influence in the day's outcome, as in the stage to Napoli anti-Israel protestors attempted to take down the two breakaway riders right in the final kilometers of the stage. The team's presence in the Vuelta could be considered a minor security risk for the event taking into consideration such instances.

"The Valladolid time trial in the last week and the Angliru stage (13, ed.), along with the La Farrapona stage (14, ed.) in the Asturian stages, will also be other great judges."

"The Vuelta is going to be a great duel between two teams, Visma and UAE. Either team could have two grand tours this year, as Simon Yates won the Giro and Pogacar won the Tour. That will be an added incentive.

"We will have other riders, such as Juan Ayuso, who is a great cyclist, and being Spanish could guarantee a competition between a foreign rider and a national rider, which always excites the fans."

"We would have loved to have Pogacar, and also Evenepoel, but he has done the Tour and his plans have gone, on the other hand. However, Pogacar made his Vuelta debut in 2019 and hasn't returned, but since then we've had great editions. As organizers we want the best, and the positive reading is that this year we are going to have an open race and the name of the winner will not be known until the end."

"We are no strangers to the Gaza issue, and we have received demands to expel Israel from the Vuelta, but the team has earned its participation by the points achieved, it is not an invitation. It has the right to participate and we should welcome it. Nor has the team been banned from competing by any organization".

"We cannot expel the team. As long as a claim is peaceful we have nothing to say, it is respected, but the rules of participation are clear and we also respect them."

"First of all, we hope that the fires are put out as soon as possible, apart from the sporting issue. There is a lot of time left and we are hopeful that everything will be solved by the time the Vuelta passes through the affected areas. If necessary, we will look for a plan B."