Cycling team Israel Premier Tech excluded from race in Italy over safety concerns

Cycling team Israel Premier Tech has been excluded from an upcoming race in Italy over concerns about pro-Palestinian protests and disruption if the team was to participate.

The decision by organizers of the Giro dell’Emilia race comes after protesters repeatedly disrupted the recent Spanish Vuelta, where Israel Premier Tech took part. Spain’s government estimated that more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage this month.

In total, seven of the last 11 days of racing at the Vuelta were cut short or interrupted.

Bologna councilor Roberta Li Calzi welcomed the decision to remove the team from the one-day race, which is scheduled for Oct. 4.

“We believe that sport is a vehicle of universal values of sharing, fair competition, solidarity between people,”