Sunday, October 13, 2024, 1:10 p.m.
This Sunday, Donostia has been a clamor for “the rights of Guipuzcoan cycling.” Hundreds of protesters of all ages have protested the current cycling situation in the territory and demanded that a solution be found.
The protest began at eleven in the morning at the Velodrome and ended at half past twelve with the words of Santi Osoro, former president of the Guipuzcoan Cycling Federation, at the kiosk on the Boulevard. Osoro began by thanking those present for the mobilization: «Thousands of thanks to all of you who have come to make noise. Please know that our appearances and demonstrations in recent weeks are beginning to pay off. On Thursday we had a meeting in the Basque Government with those responsible for Traffic and the new management of the Provincial Council and we must be positive. Until now there were many nice words and few actions. “Now we have to be positive and we believe that they will take action because we have made them realize the problem.”
The former president has continued with a clear demand: “It cannot be that we are treated as a simple obstacle because we need to cut streets. We cannot teach the youngest kids the values of discipline and effort of cycling so that on Sunday in the race they have a puncture and have to retire.
Santi Osoro has also highlighted the Basque community around cycling: «today here we have clubs from Iparralde, Bizkaia, Araba, Gipuzkoa and Navarra. It’s not nonsense when they say that we have the best fans in the world here. We are a small town, but the ikurriña is always present in all the races. We do not need a cover letter. From Ethiopia they have sent us a video of encouragement for this demonstration. “They know that we are worthwhile people.”
Finally, Osoro did not want to forget Mikel Larrea, a cycle tourist from Oñati: «This week we have seen that what we ask for is justified. Mikel Larrea had an accident with a bus and is in the ICU, thank God out of danger, but with many injuries. “He can’t be here today, but I didn’t want to forget him.” The demonstration ended with applause from all the fans, cyclists and clubs that came to the Boulevard kiosk.
