Israel-Premier Tech does not intend to withdraw from the Vuelta a España 2025 despite all the protests; however, the pressure on the team is mounting. Team manager Óscar Guerrero even states that his team has received death threats.
"We are afraid," Guerrero tells the Spanish radio station Onda Cero. "It's very serious, because we are facing insults and a lot of verbal abuse. I understand that people are protesting, but I explicitly ask that our riders not be attacked. It’s not easy for us either."
The eleventh stage finishing in Bilbao had no winner on Wednesday afternoon, as pro-Palestine protests repeatedly disrupted the finish line. The technical director of the Vuelta - Kiko García - said earlier on Wednesday that he hopes Israel-Premier Tech itself will pull out of the race. The ProTeam is not responding to that request.
Guerrero wants to make it clear that the cycling team is not involved in every aspect of the developments between Israel and Gaza. "This is about a sports team. People are confusing things. Of course, I have an opinion about what is currently happening in Gaza, but this is not the time to talk about it. I am not happy with what I see in Gaza, either. Just like many people within our team."
The sports director hopes that the worst is now behind them. "We knew in advance that things in Bilbao (where the riders finished on Wednesday, ed.) could become very tricky and heated. I hope the Vuelta will proceed smoothly from now on."
