Tour de France in Barcelona: Palestinian flags vanish in a 'miracle'

The Tour de France rolled into Barcelona and the Palestinian flags disappeared: miracle or staged show?

The first stage of the Tour de France, held in Barcelona, produced a scene many are calling a miracle: not a single Palestinian flag waved among the crowd, even though until a few days ago they were a common sight at any mass event. Only the occasional independence-minded estelada broke the monotony. The coincidence with the Gaza ceasefire, barely hours earlier, has fuelled the controversy.

A stark contrast with the Vuelta a Madrid

Anyone trinc the news will remember the Palestinian protests at last year's Vuelta a España (Spain's national cycling tour), with race stoppages and banners. Back then, the organisers were accused of allowing the politicisation of sport. Now, in Barcelona, there has been nothing but silence. Some analysts point to a change of strategy by the Spanish Government: not upsetting its Arab allies just as peace is being negotiated. Others, more conspiratorial, speak of a direct order to avoid a scandal.

The media noise goes on

Meanwhile, on Spanish TV studios, shows like 'El Intermedio' keep opening with Gaza every day. The gap between the street and the media keeps widening: if the conflict is cooling down, why keep it on the front page? For many, the answer is that the Palestinian cause has become more of an ideological lure than a genuine demand.

The Tour's 'miracle' will last exactly as long as the truce does. But the controversy over the political use of sport and the handling of protests will not be so easily resolved.