As his Visma-Lease a Bike team came second in a stage five team time trial that was briefly slowed down by pro-Palestinian protesters, Jonas Vingegaard reclaimed the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG won the stage race in Figueres by covering the 24.1 km course in 25 minutes and 26 seconds, while Vingegaard’s team finished eighth.
Lidl-Trek, a Giulio Ciccone film, finished nine seconds off the pace of the competition in third place.
A protest attempted to stop riders from the Israel-Premier Tech team from traveling on the road, but it was disrupted the stage.
As police on motorcycles attempted to clear the street of protesters who were waving pro-Palestinian flags and banners, four riders were forced to slow down while four came to a complete stop.
The team ended up in 19th place, 54 seconds slower than the winners, because of the disruption.
Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, owner of Israel-Premier Tech, was also on the offensive during the Tour de France last month, according to protesters.
The organization declared in a statement that it respects “everyone’s right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to peacefully protest peacefully.” However, it categorically denounces the protesters’ perverse actions.
The team works with race organizers and relevant authorities to ensure everyone’s safety at the Vuelta a Espana and all races, and to prevent any protests from affecting race rights and safety, according to the statement.
In response to the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the hostage taking of 251, Israel’s military launched a campaign in Gaza.
The closest rivals of Vingegaard are the UAE trio.
Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida, and Marc Soler, who are all now eight seconds behind two-time Tour de France champion Vingegaard, were the UAE’s trio’s 74th victory of the year.
After four days of racing in Italy and France, France’s David Gaudu won the third stage and finished second overall, 16 seconds clear of Vingegaard, who is fifth, with Ciccone in fifth.
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team finished eighth, 22 seconds behind UAE’s champion, and he is now 30 seconds ahead of Vingegaard in the GC standings.
In the fifth stage, fifteen national time-trial champions competed, and the teams’ times were determined by the fourth home.
The 171km-long trek across the Pyrenees, starting from Olot in Catalonia to Pal in Andorra, will be the first true mountain test of the year on Thursday.
Results from Vuelta a Espana Stage Five
1. 25 minutes, 26 seconds Emirates-XRG UUA
2. 8 seconds to rent a bike plus.
3. 9secs of Lidl-Trek
4. Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe + 12secs
5. Ineos Grenadiers + 16secs
6. 17 seconds for Moviestar
7. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale + 17 secs
8. Q36.5 Pro Cycling + 22secs
9. Groupama-FDJ + 24 sec
After stage five, classification generally.
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) 16 hrs 11 mins 24 secs
2. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) + 8 seconds
3. 8secs for Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
4. Marc Soler (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) + 8 seconds
5. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) + 9secs
6. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) + 16 seconds
7. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) + 16secs
8. 20 seconds added for Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe).
9. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) + 20 secs
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Source: BBC
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