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Cycling-Cyclists union president says races could be shortened to deter protests
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 3, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 3, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Cycling union president proposes shortening races to deter protests after disruptions at Vuelta a Espana, emphasizing rider safety.
(Reuters) -Professional cyclists' union (CPA) President Adam Hansen has proposed shortening major races to deny protesters a platform and safeguard riders following disruptions at the Vuelta a Espana last month.
The Vuelta, one of cycling's Grand Tours, suffered several disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters, with Israel–Premier Tech the main focus of the protests. The final stage in Madrid was abandoned after demonstrators blocked the finish line.
"Protesters should have the platform taken away from them; if they have no platform they won't go to a race," Hansen told BBC Sport on Thursday.
"We saw that in Madrid protesters had two hours of live TV, which became just about protesting and not the race.
"I'm not against protesting, but putting riders in danger is the last thing we want — some riders were hit and pushed off their bikes (in Madrid) and this is not protesting."
Hansen conceded that cancelling parts of races would be a huge deal for organisers.
"But we have to make a small sacrifice today for the long-term future of cycling," he added.
The Israel–Premier Tech team have been excluded from the upcoming Giro dell'Emilia over public safety concerns.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
A professional cyclists' union is an organization that represents the interests of professional cyclists, advocating for their rights, safety, and working conditions in the sport of cycling.
A major race in cycling typically refers to prestigious events such as the Grand Tours, which include the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España, attracting top cyclists worldwide.
Rider safety encompasses measures and practices aimed at protecting cyclists from accidents and injuries during races or training, including regulations, equipment standards, and emergency protocols.
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