Spanish cyclist Javier Romo abandoned the Vuelta a Espana during stage 16 on Tuesday just days after a crash amid a disturbance caused by a pro-Palestinian protestor.

The 26-year-old Movistar rider fell in Sunday’s 15th stage when a protestor emerged from bushes, lunged towards cyclists and slipped, with a police officer running from the other side of the road to try and intercept him.

In the confusion, Romo fell from his bicycle and then appeared to run after the protestor before returning to his bike and finishing the stage.

On Tuesday morning, before starting the 16th stage, Romo said he had suffered “only bruises” from the incident but was “not feeling very well, mentally or physically”.

The race has been disrupted numerous times, including when the 11th stage was shortened because

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