Israel-Gaza protests: Tom Pidcock worries for riders targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters

Britain’s Tom Pidcock says he worries about riders being targeted after extensive pro-Palestinian protests during the Vuelta a Espana.

The 26-year-old finished a career-best third at the three-week race – cycling’s final Grand Tour of the season – for his new Q36.5 team.

The Vuelta – won by Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard – was affected by protests across at least eight stages of the race, leading to crashes in the peloton and organisers having to end stages early.

The eight-man Israel-Premier Tech team, who included two British riders, were targeted, specifically on stage five’s team time trial.

Pidcock said: “Obviously I’m not going to comment on why people are protesting, but I worry about my friends who ride for the Israel [Premier Tech] team.

“They’re not riding to support Israel, they’re riding because they got an opportunity to race bikes around the world – at the end of the day they’re just like [the rest] of us. And same with all the staff.

“They had a pretty rough time of it – they have for a while, but it was worse [at the Vuelta].”

Pidcock explained that several riders became more worried as the three-week race progressed.

The final stage to Madrid was abandoned with around 60km to go after protestors stormed the course and minor scuffles broke out with some riders.

Pidcock, who has won two Olympic gold medals in mountain biking and one of the most gruelling stages of the Tour de France, spoke of his experience of seeing the disruptions occur.

“The last stage… when Felix [Gall] got pushed off his bike in Madrid, just before the race was stopped – yeah, that was overstepping it,” Pidcock said.

“On one stage they threw pins in the road, and a lot of riders punctured. But in general it never got to a point where I was seriously scared.

“I just don’t think people think about the consequences of what they’re doing. In the [time trial] I got hit in the face with a flag for example.”