This Saturday the 33rd edition of the Miguel Indurain Grand Prix having 22 teams from different categories. One of them is the Israel-Premier Tech with plans to have cyclists on the way out George Bennett, Chris Froome, Mason Hollyman, Matthew Riccitello, Guy Savig, Stephen Williams and Michael Woodsand certainly the existence of this formation has raised some criticism, as in the group. Lizarra Host City, who regretted that the direction of the race did not exclude this group from the race.
And they did it in this press release: “Lizarra Host City, we congratulate the Estella-lizarra Cycling Club of the work it does in favor of sport, but we cannot remove ourselves from the political and social reality that Israel is inflicting, today, on the Palestinian people. As long as Israel continues the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, we must exclude “Israel” from international, national and local sports organizations…basketball, soccer, CYCLING… Unacceptable pretending not to ban Israel from participating in sporting events while exterminating the population in the Gaza Strip. Israeli teams have been playing in European competitions for many years, contributing, by that fact alone, to the normalization of the Zionist State they represent. “We denounce the political use being made of these involvements, which turn a deaf ear to war crimes, and reinforce our intolerable status as friends of Israel.”
And continue: “The Estella-Lizarra Lizarra Cycling Club- Txirrindulari Elkartea as the organizer of GRAND PRIZE/ SARI NAGUSIA MIGUEL INDURAIN., next to Estella-Lizarra Udala Town Hall and in Government of Navarra- Navarra governs and other sports organizations such as the International Cycling Union, are complicit in allowing the participation of the Israeli professional team in the race to be held next Saturday. For consistency, for simple humanity, the participation of Israeli teams, teams and athletes in international competitions should be prohibited. We don’t know who they are, or what these athletes think about Israel, but they represent a genocidal and criminal State, and they raise its flag. “Sports should not serve to whitewash the image of countries that commit genocide and… at Estella-Lizarra we do not support genocide.”
Victory at last year’s Indurain Grand Prix went to Cofidis Ion Izagirre team rider, who this year will also be present at the race.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
