Team Israel Premier Tech 's riders compete during the fifth stage of La Vuelta a Espana cycling tour. The team includes New Zealander George Bennett. Photo: JOSEP LAGO / AFP
New Zealand cyclist George Bennett's team were stopped by protesters during the fifth stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
The Israel-Premier Tech team were blocked on the road by a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags, with half the team forced to a complete stop before they set off again.
The protest cost them several seconds, with the team eventually finishing 19th, 54 seconds slower than UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who won the stage, which was a team time trial.
Footage of Israel-Premier Tech held up by protestors in Vuelta team time trial
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Visma-Lease a Bike came second which allowed Jonas Vingegaard to take back the red jersey from Groupama-FDJ's David Gaudu.
Bennett's team condemned the protest, and said it compromised the safety of the riders, race personnel and the protesters themselves.
"Israel-Premier Tech respects everyone's right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest peacefully, but we absolutely condemn the dangerous acts of the protesters," the team said in a statement.
"The team continues to work with race organisers and relevant authorities to ensure our safety at the Vuelta a Espana and all races and ensure any protests do not impact our safety, nor our right to race."
Although team time trials are now quite rare on Grand Tours, the format is making a comeback, with the time for each team considered when the fourth rider crossed the line on the 24.1 km stage in Figueres.
Gaudu was level on time with race favourite Vingegaard after stage four, but the Frenchman took the leader's red jersey on countback.
However, Visma-Lease a Bike turned the tables on Thursday.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG finished with a time of 25 minutes and 26 seconds, averaging nearly 57 km/h, while Visma-Lease a Bike finished eight seconds behind.
Groupama-FDJ could only manage ninth place, 24 seconds behind.
Vingegaard now holds an eight-second lead over the UAE Team Emirates-XRG trio of Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida and Marc Soler.
Lidl-Trek's Giulio Ciccone is nine seconds back while Gaudu is 16 seconds behind in the general classification.
Bennett is 144th overall.
-Reuters/RNZ
