Protester Causes Crash at vuelta a España Stage

The 15th stage of the Vuelta a España saw a dangerous incident on Sunday: Spanish rider Javi Romo, from Movistar, crashed after a pro-Palestinian protester ran near the riders with a flag.

The incident happened around 65 kilometers from the finish line of the stage between Vegadeo and Monforte de Lemos. Television footage shows the protester running alongside the road, flag in hand, before stumbling and falling.

This distracted Romo, causing him to lose control of his bike after pointing out the protester to the police.

A security officer quickly tried to detain the protester, while Romo, clearly upset, briefly left his bike to confront the officer. He soon resumed the stage, but continued riding while suffering from the effects of the crash.

This year’s Vuelta has already seen pro-Palestinian protests. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, the 11th stage, which finished in Bilbau, was shortened due to concerns about potential disruptions.