The Israel-Premier Tech team insists it will ride on in the Vuelta a Espana, even though repeated roadside pro-Palestinian protests forced one stage to be curtailed and several of its riders say they are scared.

The third most important race in the international calendar started in Italy on August 23 and once it entered Spain four days later, demonstrators began lining roads waving red, green, black and white Palestinian flags.

Protestors have run onto the road, some have attempted to lie in the path of the peloton. At times riders have had to swerve or stop.

"The management and especially the riders are afraid. They are exposed on their bikes and we don't know what might happen," Eric Van Lancker, one of Israel-Premier Tech's two sporting directors, said.

Italian rider Simone Petilli, who rides for the Intermarche-Circus-Wanty team, crashed Tuesday after encountering one protest.

On Wednesday, organisers cut short the 11th stage in Bilbao by three kilometres (1.8 miles) after protesters and police clashed near the finish line. The race was again briefly halted during Friday's stage.

"We are afraid. We are being subjected to insults and........

© International Business Times