Pro-Palestinian protests halt final stage of Spain’s Vuelta cycling tour

The climactic stage of the Vuelta a España, one of  world cycling’s three Grand Tours, was abandoned on Sunday after pro-Palestinian activists stormed the course in central Madrid, toppling barriers and blocking the road in a protest that overshadowed the sport’s season finale.

Demonstrators occupied parts of the route, including the capital’s iconic Gran Vía, forcing organisers to halt the peloton with 60 kilometres left of the 21st and final stage. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, addressing a Socialist Party rally in Málaga hours before the final stage of the race, had spoken of his “respect and recognition for the athletes and…admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine.” Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, accused Sánchez of fuelling the disorder. “[It is] violence that the prime minister is directly responsible for due to his statements this morning instigating the protests,” he said. “Today is the saddest day since I became mayor of this great city.”

The event had been plagued for weeks by protests aimed at the Israel-Premier Tech team. Earlier stages were shortened after riders expressed fears for their safety, with some crashes linked to the demonstrations. In recent days, the Israeli squad took to competing in altered jerseys that removed the team’s name in an effort to reduce tensions.

On the morning of the finale, Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso visited the team at their bus to offer support, telling riders: “What you have experienced over the past three weeks is not Spain. It is the behaviour of a minority, and it does not represent us. My message to the team is clear: you are not alone.”

Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, who led the general classification going into the day, was confirmed overall winner, securing his first Vuelta title to add to two Tour de France victories. Reacting to his victory, Vingegaard said: “It’s a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us. I was looking forward to celebrating this overall win with my team and the fans. Everyone has the right to protest, but not in a way that influences or endangers our race.” There was no podium ceremony in Madrid, and clashes continued after the abandonment as protesters threw bottles and other objects at police. More than 1,000 officers had been deployed in anticipation of unrest.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar condemned Sánchez and his government as a “disgrace” to Spain, writing on X: “Today he encouraged protesters to take to the streets. The pro-Palestinian mob heard the messages of incitement – and ruined the cycling race La Vuelta.”

The protests come against the backdrop of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 64,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since.

Jonas Vingegaard took the overall title ahead of Portugal’s João Almeida and Britain’s Tom Pidcock. Matthew Riccitello, riding for Israel–Premier Tech, not only finished fifth overall but also won the Best Young Rider classification — the best general classification result in the team’s history and its highest Grand Tour finish to date