"Former Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss advocates for enhanced safety measures following the suspension of stage 11 due to pro-Palestine protests, expressing his concern about the current situation."

The Vuelta a España cycling race in 2025 has been marred by protests, with the final three kilometers of stage 11 being cancelled due to the unrest making it unsafe for the race to approach the finish line.

The Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech, has been at the centre of the controversy. Their presence in the race has sparked protests, leading to interruptions and safety concerns. Three protestors were arrested and four police officers were injured during the events in Bilbao.

Jonas Vingegaard, a leading contender in the race, questioned if the race had its last stage winner due to the ongoing protests. Sepp Kuss, another top cyclist and former Vuelta a España winner, expressed concerns about rider security after the suspension of stage 11.

Kuss described the situation as "a bitter-sweet feeling." On one hand, he could have potentially gained time on João Almeida in the final ascent of the Pike, but the turmoil at the finish prevented any further time gaps. On the other hand, he believed that the race would have reached Madrid, but action had to be taken due to the ongoing tension.

The UCI has condemned elements of the protest that put riders at risk. Despite the protests, Israel-Premier Tech intends to continue participating in the Vuelta a Espana. Kuss refused to comment on the discussion about the team leaving the race at the pre-stage meeting.

Kuss called for renewed safety measures to be implemented to ensure the completion of the race. He expressed hope that people will respect the riders and a decision will be reached about the protests. Vingegaard expressed concern about the safety of the race and the possibility of it being halted.

Sepp Kuss also noted that there have been more and more protestors about the conflict everywhere in the world. He believes that the race would have reached Madrid, but action had to be taken due to the ongoing tension.

The protests have cast a shadow over the Vuelta a España, but the race continues, with the riders and teams determined to complete the challenge despite the challenges they face.

"Former Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss advocates for enhanced safety measures following the suspension of stage 11 due to pro-Palestine protests, expressing his concern about the current situation."