Cyclists Union President Proposes Shortening Major Races Amid Vuelta Protests

Adam Hansen, president of the Professional Cyclists' Association, has proposed shortening major cycling races, including grand tours like the Vuelta a Espana, to prevent pro-Palestinian protests from disrupting events and endangering riders. The recent Vuelta saw significant protests targeting the Israel–Premier Tech team, owned by a Canadian-Israeli billionaire, which led to the cancellation of the final stage in Madrid and incidents where riders were pushed or brought down. Hansen emphasized that denying protesters the platform of live TV coverage would discourage such disruptions, suggesting that canceling or shortening races would protect rider safety and preserve the sport's long-term future. While acknowledging the financial and logistical challenges for organizers, Hansen maintains that a small sacrifice is necessary to ensure cycling events are not hijacked by protests. The protests have raised broader concerns about balancing the right to demonstrate with athlete safety and event integrity, as seen with the exclusion of Israel–Premier Tech from other races over safety fears. This debate highlights growing tensions between political activism and international sporting events.