Soler wins stage as Israel-Premier Tech modify kit

In the middle of more pro-Palestinian protests at the final Grand Tour of the year, Marc Soler took the stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana as Israel-Premier Tech riders raced in modified jerseys.

After dropping his fellow breakaway riders, Spaniard Soler rode alone to the summit finish at Farrapona in the north of the country.

On the second big mountain stage in two days, overall leader Jonas Vingegaard finished 39 seconds behind, beating nearest rival Joao Almeida of Portugal’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Joao Almeida.

Vingegaard from Denmark increased his lead in the overall rankings by another two seconds.

Tom Pidcock, the Great Britain’s top performer, finished eighth and is still in third place overall, with the exception of Jai Hindley, who also placed fourth on the day.

For the “safety” of the race, Israeli-Premier Tech riders donned jerseys without their team names on.

Stage 11 was premature earlier this week, with no winner being announced as police battled to contain the hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters who waved flags in Bilbao.

In light of the risky nature of some protests at the Vuelta, Israel-Premier Tech issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the duration of the race, the team said on Saturday before the stage.

The monogram kit now conforms to the branding decisions we made for our vehicles and casual clothing, but the team name is still Israel-Premier Tech.

Riders slowed to a halt as they made their way down a congested road lined with people waving Palestinian flags during the neutralized start.

In response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the hostage of 251, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry of the Hamas-run region, at least 64,231 people have died as a result of Israeli attacks in Gaza since then.

Additionally, according to the ministry, three people have died in the last 24 hours from starvation and malnutrition during the war, according to the ministry.

1. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) + 39secs

3. Same time as Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

4. + 43secs Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +

5. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), + 48secs

6. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) + 53secs

7. Same time Matthew Riccitello (US/Israel-Premier Tech)

8. Tom Pidcock (GB/Q36.5 Pro Cycling)

9. Sepp Kuss (US/Visma-Lease a Bike)

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) 53 hrs 19 mins 49 secs

2. 48 seconds added for Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates).

3. Tom Pidcock (GB/Q36.5 Pro Cycling) + 2mins 38secs

4. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) + 3 minutes 10 secs

5. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) + 3 minutes 30 secs

6. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) + 4 minutes, 21 secs

7. Matthew Riccitello (USA/Israel-Premier Tech) + 4 minutes, 53 seconds

8. Sepp Kuss (USA/Visma-Lease a Bike) + 5 minutes 46 secs

9. Thorstein Traeen (Nor/Bahrain Victorious) + 6 minutes 33 secs