Italian cyclist Marco Pantani (L) talks to Frenchman Laurent Jalabert (R) before they hold a five-minute silent protest, ahead of the second stage of Tour of Valencia cycling race February 23. The athletes joined Spaniards mounting a wave of protests against the Basque separatist group ETA as politicians suspended election campaigning to unite in condemnation of the latest deadly bomb attack. Socialist politician Fernando Buesa and his bodyguard were killed February 22 after a suspected ETA car bomb exploded in the Basque Country capital.

ES/AA