Spain foils plot to pour oil on Vuelta a Espana race track

The four men were arrested in a forest near the town of Suria in the northeastern region of Catalonia, as they prepared to dump 400 liters of a liquid similar to engine oil from two drums onto the road.

Police said the attackers used two drums, each with a capacity of 200 liters, and a trigger device with an electric valve and a stopwatch hidden in the bushes just above the entrance to one of the buildings. the tunnel through the mountain on the track that the cyclists will go through.

The four are believed to be members of a group called CDR that is demanding independence for Catalonia. The group vehemently opposes Vuelta a Espana competing in the region, calling it "colonialism".

They are being investigated for crimes against road safety, the environment, joining a criminal group, disturbing public order and will have to appear in court. Police later released the four men pending further investigation, but ordered all four to stay at least 500 meters away from the Vuelta a Espana races.

The third stage of Vuelta a Espana on August 28 features a 158.5 km climbing route from Suria, Spain to Arinsal in Andorra. Belgian driver Remco Evenepoel beat Jonas Vingegaard - the 2023 and 2022 Tour de France champion - to win this stage with 4 hours 15 minutes 39 seconds.

After four races, Evenepoel led the standings with 8 hours 43 minutes 11 seconds, ahead of Enric Mas of Movistar Team by 5 seconds, Lenny Martinez of Groupama–FDJ by 11 seconds and Vingegaard of Jumbo–Visma by 31 seconds.

Vuelta a Espana (race around Spain) along with Giro d'Italia (race around Italy) and Tour de France (race around France) are the three Grand Tours of the cycling village in a year.

Vuelta a Espana 2023 for the 78th time the tournament is held, starting in Barcelona and traveling through regions of Andorra and France. The tournament will close on September 17 with the closing stage with a 101 km long flat route from Hipodromo de la Zarzuela to Madrid.