The Movistar rider manages to finish the 15th stage after an accident indirectly caused by a pro-Palestinian protester.
Movistar's Javier Romo managed to complete the fifteenth stage of the Vuelta a España despite a bad crash indirectly caused by a pro-Palestine protester who attempted to reach the road.
The Spanish rider finished the stage 14 minutes late and was immediately taken to the team bus for medical attention. Photos taken upon arrival showed visible abrasions on his left hip and other cuts and bruises.
The accident occurred about 60 kilometers from the finish line, in a wooded area with few spectators. A protester carrying a Palestinian flag attempted to reach the road by running down a grassy slope, but fell right on the edge of the asphalt. Romo and another runner, attempting to avoid the protester, had to swerve sharply, causing them to fall.
Teammate Carlos Canal commented:
"Someone suddenly appeared trying to reach the road and fell. Romo was involved, and it was a bad fall. We hope it's nothing serious because we really need him."This is the second such accident at the Vuelta, after Simone Petilli of Intermarché-Wanty crashed on stage 10 after protesters entered the street. The protester responsible for today's accident was later arrested along with other protesters.
For the Movistar team, it will now be crucial to take advantage of the rest day to allow Romo to recover as best as possible in view of the decisive stages of the third week.
