Pro-Palestine Demonstrators Gather at Road Cycling Championships
Pro-Palestine protesters were ushered off the course before the start of the men’s road race at the Australian road cycling championships.
A group of about half a dozen protesters, carrying placards, staged a rally at the start-finish line in Buninyong, near Ballarat on Sunday afternoon.
One protester ran over near the riders assembled at the start line before he was removed.
Police and officials then took the group from the course as the national anthem was being played and they continued their protest on the side of the road, with the race going ahead as scheduled.
Long-time Australian professional Simon Clarke rides for the Israel Premier Tech team and he was among the 102 starters for the men’s road race.
One protest placard read “Israel Premier Tech Not Welcome.”
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Israel-Premier Tech is a WorldTour-level team that will also compete later this month at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, with Clarke in a squad of seven riders to compete at the race.
The team was formed to promote cycling in Israel and reached WorldTour level three years ago, competing at major road races such as the Tour de France.
Sunday’s rally is the latest protest over the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
