Israel Premier Tech barred from Giro dell Emilia for safety concerns

Organizers of the Giro dell Emilia in Italy announced on Saturday that the Israel Premier Tech cycling team will be excluded from the one day race on Oct. 4, citing public safety concerns after repeated pro-Palestinian disruptions at the recent Vuelta a Espana in Spain that culminated in mass protests in Madrid. Spain's government estimated more than 100,000 people were on the streets during the Vuelta's final day, and race officials in Spain were forced to shorten, neutralize or abandon several stages because of demonstrations targeting the team.

The Italian organizer, Adriano Amici, said the decision was taken reluctantly but for reasons of public security. He told local authorities the Vuelta experience showed the risk of disruption was particularly high on the Giro dell Emilia's final circuit, which is run five times and finishes on a climb into Bologna. There is too much danger for both the Israel Premier Tech riders and others, he said.

Bologna councilor Roberta Li Calzi welcomed the exclusion, saying sport should reflect universal values of fair competition and solidarity and that the decision matched the sensibilities of much of the local community. The municipality's...