There was no winner on stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana as race organisers ended Wednesday’s racing three kilometres earlier than the end line due to pro-Palestinian protesters.

The announcement concerning the early end on what was speculated to be a 157.4km stage in Bilbao got here with about 20 kilometres to go.

“Resulting from some incidents on the end line, we’ve determined to take the time at three kilometres earlier than the road,” mentioned the race director on Radio Vuelta.

“We cannot have a stage winner. We are going to give the factors for the mountain classification and the intermediate dash, however not on the end line.”

Nice Britain’s Tom Pidcock and total chief Jonas Vingegaard had been on the entrance when the stage was ended.

Pidcock made a transfer on the ultimate climb and Vingegaard was the one rider capable of go together with him.

“It’s arduous to explain the frustration to be sincere. I felt like immediately was my day,” mentioned Pidcock.

Vingegaard mentioned: “It is my son’s birthday – he is one 12 months previous immediately so I needed to win for him.

“We labored all day for it and to not get the prospect is clearly an enormous disgrace.”

Previous to stage 11, riders had met for a security assembly, whereas the Skilled Cyclists’ Affiliation had referred to as for higher safety at an occasion at which the Israel-Premier Tech staff have been focused.

On stage 5, the Israel-Premier Tech staff had been held up by protestors holding pro-Palestinian flags and banners.

Italian rider Simone Petilli additionally fell on stage 10 when protestors ran on to the street.

“I perceive that isn’t a superb scenario, however yesterday I crashed due to a protest on the street,” wrote Petilli on social media.

“Please, we’re simply cyclists and we’re doing our job, but when it should proceed like this our security will not be assured any extra, and we really feel in peril! We simply wish to race.”

Following stage 11, Pidcock mentioned: “Placing us in peril is not going to assist your trigger.”

Israel’s army launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage.

No less than 63,633 folks have been killed in Gaza since then, in response to the territory’s well being ministry.

Stage 12 of 21 on Thursday is scheduled to happen over 144.9km from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna.