In recent days, Race Radio at the Vuelta España was hacked and for 10 minutes, car radios were broadcasting a song repeating the phrase: "Long live Palestine, Free Palestine". Sports directors, mechanics, and masseurs following the race were forced to witness something no one would have expected: protesters invading the Vuelta roads, demanding the withdrawal of the Israel-Premier Tech team.

There is silence in the peloton and few riders are willing to speak: cyclists merely make brief comments about what is happening, such as "I can't talk", "I don't want to talk", "We have our opinion, but the team told us not to speak".

Israel-Premier Tech riders are speaking even less than others, and perhaps some of them would prefer to be home right now, just as Marco Frigo had said after protesters invaded the road during his team's time trial in Figueres.

One of the very few to comment was Joxean Matxin, manager of UAE Team Emirates. "It's obvious that the situation is terrible, and the protests are understandable," Matxin said. "But I don't believe knocking down a rider improves or worsens the situation of those who are suffering".

Few are willing to discuss the problems caused by activists during the race, not wanting to increase incidents of race invasion. There are fans who do not support the riders' silence, and the lack of taking a stance does not sit well with part of the public. Some fans have pointed out that riders know how to complain and can stop racing when they want, such as when a roundabout is poorly marked or there are dangers on the course.

Among the few who spoke is Jonas Vingegaard, who nonetheless tries not to intervene too much but cannot avoid certain questions when interviewed. On Danish TV channel TV2, the Visma-Lease a Bike leader showed solidarity with those expressing their opinion. "People do this for a reason. What is happening is terrible. I think those protesting maybe just want to express themselves, and perhaps the media will give them a voice. Maybe that's why they're doing this," he said after a protester caused Javier Romo to crash. "Of course, it's a shame this is happening to the race. I think many of us cyclists feel the same way, but I repeat, I believe the protesters simply have a desperate need to be heard".

The teams have a tacit agreement that politics and war should not enter sports. Therefore, almost no one wants to comment on the daily incidents of protesters invading the Vuelta. Sunday, the Spanish stage race should end in Madrid, but no one today can say if this will actually happen or if, as already hypothesized, the race will conclude on Saturday.