The cyclists of the Vuelta a España have raised their voices with a clear cry: “We just want to race.” After several interruptions caused by protesters in recent stages, the safety of the riders has become an urgent and pressing issue. The tension reached its peak in Bilbao, when stage 11 was halted by a protest on the road, forcing the race to stop. For the cyclists, who already deal with the strain of physical effort and the risks of competition, these interruptions represent an added danger they are unwilling to tolerate.

The Professional Cyclists’ Association (CPA) reacted firmly, calling it “unacceptable” to expose riders to risk on the road. Although the organization recognizes the right to protest, it stresses that this cannot come at the expense of the safety of athletes, who put body and soul into every stage. The call is now clear: to strengthen safety measures and protect cyclists from incidents that could have irreversible consequences.

Safety, a pending debt in the Vuelta

The recent episodes during stages 10 and 11, as well as in the team time trial, have highlighted a worrying fragility in the race’s safety protocols. In one incident, Italian rider Simone Petilli suffered a crash while trying to avoid protesters who ran onto the road. His testimony on social media reflected the frustration of many of his colleagues: “I understand it’s not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a protest on the road.” These words humanize a problem that goes beyond sport and directly compromises the physical integrity of the cyclists.

The CPA, in its statement, made a direct appeal to Spanish authorities to do everything possible to ensure the riders’ protection. “Everyone has the right to protest, but not at the expense of the athletes,” emphasized the organization, which sees it as a priority to prevent such situations from happening again. For the cyclists, whose profession is already a constant struggle against pain, fatigue, and the elements, the least they expect is to compete without fearing that a protest could end in tragedy.

Voices of the peloton and the respect of the fans

Beyond institutional statements, it was the riders themselves who made clear the widespread feeling within the peloton: vulnerability. “Please, we are just cyclists doing our job. If this continues, our safety is no longer guaranteed and we feel in danger,” they said in a statement. The message is not one of confrontation but of plea: to race without external disruptions, without more risks than those already imposed by the hardship of professional cycling.

The call for respect was also backed by sporting legend Mark Cavendish, who asked fans to enjoy cycling’s closeness, but with responsibility. “Do not get too close to the riders, do not push them, do not wave flags or hold objects that interfere; do not do anything that could change the race,” he stressed. His message seeks to remind everyone that the charm of this sport lies in the closeness between fans and riders, but that closeness must never turn into a threat. Cycling needs safety, yes, but also empathy and respect from all those involved.