The Giro dell’Emilia like the Vuelta a España? The situation with the protests and the municipality…

The Vuelta a España has set a precedent, that’s undeniable. After the partial or complete cancellation of three stages at the Vuelta, the Giro dell’Emilia could also face major difficulties regarding the participation of Israel-Premier Tech.

Protests have already been announced in Bologna on the day of the race to prevent the Israeli team from “passing,” and the Municipality of Bologna supported the protests with this statement from Roberta Li Calzi, Councilor for Sport:

“We are against the participation of an Israeli team in the Giro dell’Emilia at a time like this, when the Israeli government is committing serious crimes against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. This is not a position against the athletes, but we cannot accept that a team linked to that government can take part in a sporting event, which by its very nature represents diametrically opposed values. We ask the organizers of the Giro dell’Emilia to exclude the Israeli Premier Tech team from the event.”

Adriano Amici, president of GS Emilia (the organizing body), replied to LaPresse:

“It’s not up to me to exclude the Israeli team; it should be the UCI, which, when it sees certain situations, communicates that it’s better for that team not to race. We invite the best teams in the world. My position becomes difficult because I’m obliged to invite essentially the best teams and riders. The team’s name doesn’t matter. We’ve always had them, and there have never been problems.

Each of us can be a politician if we want, but on a sporting level, why is Israel present at the Cycling World Championships? Why did Italy’s football team play a qualification match against Israel? I’ll speak now with their sports directors, who will consider the fact that they are not welcome by the institutions, but I can’t do anything at a sporting level. I just say that riding this horse at a sporting level doesn’t seem right; everyone manages politics as they think best, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to pour alcohol on the fire. These are things that suddenly fall on your shoulders.

This team has been registered and is competing in all events, from the Tour to the Giro, from Milan–San Remo to Tre Valli Varesine. They’re racing everywhere. The organizing body tries to have the best riders in the world, and besides, the Israeli team has foreign riders, none of them Israeli. The ones who race are the riders. Politics has little to do with it here. Of course, I agree with those who say this war isn’t right. Who wouldn’t?”

The situation is therefore evolving, but the race, scheduled for October 4, could be at serious risk if no solution is found.

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