When stage 11 of the Vuelta a España rolled out from close to the emblematic San Mamés stadium in Bilbao early on Wednesday afternoon, there was little to indicate that the day's racing would end in the same place – but with no winner, a partly-suspended stage and the overall leader questioning the viability of the entire event.
The presence of just one or two pro-Palestine flags, in an event marked by protests even in the earliest stages against the continuing participation of the Israel-Premier Tech squad, was surprisingly low. Nor did the armed police presence, just three or four visible around the Israel-Premier Tech bus, seem particularly heavier than usual. The absence of Israel-Premier Tech riders at the sign-on or for interviews had become the norm.
