Ayuso shines in Cantabria

The Vuelta a España resumed without incident yesterday, with Juan Ayuso winning his second stage, a day after organizers shortened a stage due to pro-Palestinian protesters disrupting the race in Bilbao.

Wednesday's protest targeted the Israel Premier Tech team as Israel continues its military invasion of Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians in retaliation for Hamas attacks in October 2023.

The demonstration produced chaotic scenes of crowds pushing against temporary metal barriers along the final kilometers of the route, with police and security personnel holding them back. Many protesters carried Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian banners. Race officials canceled the stage about ten kilometers from the end of the circular route leading to and from Bilbao.

Normalcy returned to the race yesterday in the green hills of the Cantabria region in northern Spain. Stage 12 began in the coastal city of Laredo, about 60 kilometers west of Bilbao along the Atlantic coast.

Ayuso, 22, one of Spanish cycling's greatest talents, has maintained his excellent form despite an ugly mid-race split with his UAE Emirates team.

His second victory came just three days after the team surprised everyone by announcing that they had agreed to terminate their three-year contract with the Spanish rider early at the end of the season.

But the dispute didn't affect his performance. Ayuso attacked on a climb, leaving the other escapees behind except for Javier Romo, whom he then beat in a sprint to the finish line of the 145-kilometer route.

The Spaniard had entered the race among a select group of riders considered title contenders, but his chance of fighting for the title evaporated when he lost 10 minutes on the sixth stage.

The next day he responded with a stage victory in the Pyrenees.

Jonas Vingegaard, the race favorite, maintained his lead in the three-week race.

To Rwanda

Isaac del Toro will lead the Mexican team competing in the World Road Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 21-28.

The Giro d'Italia runner-up, ranked sixth in the UCI world rankings, was registered for the event, along with his five other teammates, whose positions allowed Mexico to secure six spots in the elite category, Reforma reported.

Édgar Cadena, César Macías, José Juan Prieto, José Muñiz and Carlos García would be the Baja Californian's companions on the roads of Rwanda,