Cycling teams could boycott races involving Israel-Premier Tech after Vuelta chaos
World Tour cycling teams may refuse to race against Israel-Premier Tech following the multiple protests during the Vuelta a España that exploded into street violence in central Madrid on Sunday.Sources within rival teams have expressed their dismay to the Guardian at the refusal of the team to withdraw from the Vuelta and the lack of protection from the International Cycling Union (UCI) for its own commercial and sporting interests.Michal Kwiatkowski of Ineos Grenadiers was among those to publicly criticise the UCI for its lack of action during the Vuelta.The former world road race champion posted on social media: “If the UCI and the responsible bodies couldn’t make the right decisions early enough, then long‑term it’s very bad for cycling that the protesters managed to get what they wanted.“From now on, it’s clear that a cycling race can be used as an effective stage for protests and next time it will only get worse, because someone allowed it to happen and looked the other way.
”The three-week Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour of 2025, was characterised by multiple pro-Palestine protests which caused crashes that forced two riders to quit the race, several changes to stage finishes and distances, and the cancellations of podium ceremonies,A huge protest forced the abandonment of the final stage and the cancellation of all the planned celebrations,But it was also a glimpse of one possible future for World Tour road racing if the Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) team continue to compete,For the Vuelta itself, the race has been catastrophic with increased policing cost, lost television audiences, disenchanted sponsors and stage-winning riders, including Kwiatkowski’s teammate Egan Bernal, being denied their moment of podium glory,On Sunday evening in the car park of their team hotel in suburban Madrid, Jonas Vingegaard, Joāo Almeida and Tom Pidcock, the top three finishers, stepped on to a makeshift podium of drinks coolers, and sprayed each other with champagne.
It wasn’t quite the sunset podium on live TV that they and their sponsors had expected after three weeks of tumultuous, fractured and occasionally dangerous racing.“It’s a shame that a moment for eternity was taken away from us this way,” Vingegaard, the victor, said of the Madrid finish cancellation.“I’m really upset about it.Everyone has the right to protest, but only without influencing or endangering our race.”In little more than a fortnight, an initiative which began targeting the IPT team’s participation in the race morphed into a far bigger anti‑Israel protest movement.
With further protests promised for other races, including the Tour de France start in Barcelona next year, the European racing scene is now in a bind.There were also demonstrations on Sunday in Canada, at the one-day GP Montreal, where a large yellow sign accused the IPT team of being an “ambassador of genocide”.Although there was a growing sense in the peloton that the team owner, Sylvan Adams, and his riders should have pulled out of the Vuelta, Adams steadfastly refused, saying acceding to a request from the race organiser, ASO, to withdraw would have seen no end to the protests against them and potentially other teams.“They asked us to quit the Vuelta, but we did not surrender to the terrorists,” Adams said during the race.“I told them that they were wrong and that we had the right to stay.
”Adams’s stance was welcomed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, while the billionaire team owner said he had also received support from the UCI.Israel-Premier Tech declined to comment on the latest suggestion that teams may not race at events where their riders participate.Sign up to The RecapThe best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s actionafter newsletter promotionOccasional protests by disgruntled fisherman and farmers have long been part of the Tour and, for the most part, tolerated by the race organisers.However, in a sport now heavily reliant on nation-state sponsorship and branding, politicised mass protest, no matter how peaceful, will not be.Unlike stadium-based sport, road racing – in need of public goodwill – remains uniquely vulnerable to protest and disruption on almost every kilometre of the route.
Fully securing 175km of French, Italian or Spanish countryside is logistically impossible and prohibitively expensive.It also goes against the positioning of cycling as a free “people’s festival”.Richard Plugge, Vingegaard’s team manager at Visma-Lease a Bike and one of the most influential World Tour bosses, said on Sunday evening: “These days, sport is used as a platform for addressing social issues.But the participants must be protected.They must not become victims of this social debate.
“That debate must be kept out of the athletes’ arena at all times,Athletes must be able to fight their battles unhindered in the stadium, or in our case, on the road,Otherwise, the unifying essence of sport will be jeopardised,”The UCI declined to comment on its handling of the situation, instead praising race organisers’ professionalism in the face of the protests and criticising the Spanish government,In a statement, it noted its “total disapproval of and deep concern about the events that marked the 2025 edition of La Vuelta Ciclista a España”.
“We also regret the fact that the Spanish prime minister and his government have supported actions that could hinder the smooth running of a sporting competition and, in some cases, expressed their admiration for the demonstrators.”
US agrees commercial terms on TikTok sale, as Trump says China talks went ‘very well’ – as it happened
Donald Trump has dropped a firm hint that the US and China have reached a deal about the future of TikTok.Posting on Truth Social a few minutes ago, Trump declares that the meeting taking place between officials from the US and China about trade in Madrid had gone “VERY WELL”Trump wrote:The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! It will be concluding shortly. A deal was also reached on a “certain” company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save.They will be very happy! I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday. The relationship remains a very strong one!!! President DJTTikTok’s owner, Beijing-headquartered ByteDance, has faced a Wednesday deadline to find a buyer for the short video site’s US operations, or be banned in the country
Chinese economy slows amid Trump trade war and weaker consumer spending
China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month as it comes under strain from Donald Trump’s trade wars and domestic problems, with factory output and consumer spending rising at their slowest pace for about a year.The disappointing data adds pressure on Beijing to roll out more stimulus to fend off a sharp slowdown, with a debt crisis denting the country’s once-booming property sector and exports facing stronger headwinds.Economists were split over whether policymakers should introduce more near-term fiscal support to hit their annual 5% growth target, with manufacturers awaiting further clarity on a US trade deal and domestic demand curbed by an uncertain job market and property crisis.Industrial output grew by 5.2% year on year last month, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday, the lowest reading since August 2024 and below the 5
iOS 26 release: everything you need to know about Apple’s Liquid Glass updates
Apple will release some of the biggest software updates for its iPhone, iPad and smartwatch on Monday, radically changing the way icons, the lock screen and the system looks, as well as adding features for compatible devices.Announced at the company’s developer conference in June, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 Tahoe introduce Apple’s new Liquid Glass design, giving everything a softer, more rounded and semi-transparent look that has proved divisive.Here’s what you need to know about the updates.Downloads for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS updates usually start at about 6pm UK time (1pm in New York; 3am in Sydney). Unlike other manufacturers, all eligible Apple devices will be able to download and install the update the moment it is released rather than in a staggered fashion
Google’s huge new Essex datacentre to emit 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year
A new Google datacentre in Essex is expected to emit more than half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year , equivalent to about 500 short-haul flights a week, planning documents show.Spread across 52 hectares (128 acres), the Thurrock “hyperscale datacentre” will be part of a wave of mammoth computer and AI power houses if it secures planning consent.The plans were submitted by a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, and the carbon impact emerged before a concerted push by Donald Trump’s White House and Downing Street to ramp up AI capacity in Britain. Multibillion-dollar investment deals with some of Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies are expected to be announced during the US president’s state visit to the UK, which starts on Tuesday.Keir Starmer’s government has forecast a 13-fold rise in the amount of computer processing power AI will use by 2035 and is scrambling to supply the datacentres to meet that demand in the hope the technology will boost Britain’s insipid economic productivity
No ‘funky rugby’: new England coach Lee Blackett targets substance over style
To say England have been through a few attack coaches in recent times is an understatement. The latest cab off the rank, Lee Blackett, is the 11th individual to take on the role in nine years but it may just be that the national team have found the ideal catalyst to enhance their chances at the next Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.Blackett, 42, auditioned successfully for the job in the summer tour of Argentina and the US, where England scored 13 tries in three Tests, and he has emerged as the big winner in Steve Borthwick’s latest cabinet reshuffle with Richard Wigglesworth switching to defence and Joe El-Abd helping out with the forwards.Fresh from helping to steer Bath to Premiership and Challenge Cup titles last season, Blackett has been recruited to add further zest to England’s attacking game, starting with their opening autumn series international against Australia on 1 November. With about 20 Tests between now and the next World Cup, England will be keen for him to hit the ground running
Berthoumieu banned for biting Wafer in blow to France before England clash
The France flanker Axelle Berthoumieu has been banned for biting the Ireland back-row Aoife Wafer in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter‑final and the flanker will miss the semi‑final against England on Saturday.Manaé Feleu, the France captain, will also miss the England clash as she has been banned for a high tackle in the Ireland game. Both players are appealing against the sanctions.The pair were cited on Sunday evening and faced disciplinary panels on Monday. Berthoumieu was handed a 12-match ban which was reduced from 18, while Feleu was given a three-match suspension which could be reduced to two if she completes the coaching intervention programme
The Guide #208: How theatre is holding its own in the age of artificial intelligence
From Spinal Tap II to Ed Sheeran : your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Seth Meyers on Charlie Kirk shooting: ‘Political violence is abhorrent to the highest ideals of this country’
Shrinking audiences, a cash crisis and rivals on the rise: what’s gone wrong at Tate?
Protesters target Royal Opera House over performance by ‘Putin’s diva’
And if your head explodes: Pink Floyd’s 20 best songs – ranked!