Here's what Chris Froome said to race organisers during the Vuelta a España protest
The four-time Tour de France champion led the protest that delayed the start of stage 11

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
While David Gaudu rode to an impressive victory that reminded us of his talents on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España, the result got lost in the story of the day, which was the Chris Froome-led protest at the start line.
The Ineos rider positioned himself at the front of the rollout between race leader Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and team-mate Richard Carapaz, shouting after Enric Mas Movistar) to stop after the start was announced, waving his hands and indicating that the peloton were to stay put.
The bunch did remain motionless in their saddles, at which point Vuelta race director Javier Guillén got out of his car to chat with Froome, and ITV's cameras were on hand to eavesdrop on what Froome was saying.
"I'm sorry for the race organisation, but the riders have made a decision," Froome began as Guillén walked over.
>>> Chris Froome leads protest delaying start of Vuelta a España stage 11
The protest was held due to the failure to implement the three-second rule on stage 10, which meant Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) took the red jersey off Froome’s team-mate Richard Carapaz.
The stage had been designated as a flat stage, but the uphill kick to the line generated time gaps, and the UCI commissaires decided after the stage to not use the three-second rule, meaning Carapaz lost three seconds to Roglič, while EF Pro Cycling's Hugh Carthy lost 10.
The three-second rule was introduced a few years ago to try and make flat sprint stages safer, with gaps of three-seconds at the finish line needed in order to implement time gaps between riders, so that GC riders wouldn’t also fight for the line alongside sprint trains.
"We change the jersey now, for yesterday?" Froome asked Guillén. "Because it changed the race. If we start and Jumbo have the jersey, they need to control. If we start and we have the jersey, we need to control. So it changes the whole race."
Guillén must have suggested for the matter to be discussed after the day's stage, but Froome was adamant.
"We can't talk about this later, something needs to be decided now."
Froome then had a discussion with Jumbo-Visma's Paul Martens while Enric Mas (Movistar) and Spanish national road race champion Luis Léon Sánchez (Astana) listened in. After a few more minutes, Spanish riders began to tire of the protest and the peloton started to ride off for the start of stage 11.
Froome's Ineos team-mate Geraint Thomas was supportive of the protest, saying it was good to see the peloton sticking together after the muddled protest at the Giro d'Italia last week.
"Great to see the peloton sticking together at the Vuelta. Well, apart from the usual suspects," Thomas said. "My point is, pro cycling is nothing without the riders. Yet all the big decisions are made by suits and we are the last to know. The main reason we have no say is because we don’t ever stick together as a peloton."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
‘A gateway of just how far their dreams and a bike can take them’ - Los Angeles’ first-ever pump track is now open
Los Angeles’ first-ever pump track opened to the public on Friday, September 22, after two years of construction.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
UK cycle tech falls by a third, with bikes sales also struggling, says industry report
The cycle industry continues to face challenges, with tech in freefall and even ebikes lagging behind the rest of Europe
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Is Chris Froome - in 2023 - a professional cyclist, or an influencer?
The seven-time Grand Tour winner hasn't raced since July, but has taken to being interesting on social media
By Adam Becket Published
-
Chris Froome 'absolutely not' worth multi-million euro salary says his team boss
The four-time Tour de France winner was not selected for this year's Tour de France for performance reasons, Israel-Premier Tech boss Sylvan Adams says
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Chris Froome not selected for Tour de France 2023
38-year-old misses out on 'ultimate goal' as Israel-Premier Tech confirm eight-man squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Rough day' for Chris Froome after crash and punctures kill best chance of victory since 2018
The 37-year-old was up the road in a solo move for over 50km at the Tour du Rwanda on Thursday
By Adam Becket Published
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Chris Froome labels WorldTour relegation a ‘death sentence for many teams’
Four-time Tour de France winner says UCI points system needs overhaul as Israel-PremierTech face relegation from the WorldTour
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Chris Froome still holds out hope for fifth Tour de France win
Israel-Premier Tech rider says the dream is "always there"
By Tom Davidson Published