Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale
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Pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid forced the cancellation of the Vuelta a España's final stage, leaving Jonas Vingegaard as overall winner.
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People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Pro-Palestine demonstrations brought the Vuelta a España to an abrupt halt on Sunday, with Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard named the overall champion after the final stage in Madrid was abandoned.
Crowds of protesters stormed sections of the route in the Spanish capital, toppling metal barricades and forcing riders off course as police attempted to clear the streets. "The race is over," a spokesperson for the organizers confirmed to Reuters.
Incredible scenes in Madrid as protesters try to block La Vuelta chanting: “No es una guerra, es un genocidio” — “It’s not a war, it’s a genocide.”
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) September 14, 2025
You can literally feel the anger of the Spanish people. Bravo! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 https://t.co/qHFAOzBugs pic.twitter.com/GzzG4v3N41
The protests, aimed at the Israel-Premier Tech team because of "Israel's" actions in Gaza, had plagued the cycling tour in recent weeks. Demonstrators had already blocked earlier stages, forcing organizers to shorten or reroute segments and even leading to crashes. The team itself attempted to defuse tensions by switching to jerseys that removed the word "Israel," though it kept its official name. At one point, its bus was splattered with paint, and hotels were targeted by activists.
Despite the deployment of more than 1,000 police officers for the closing leg, organizers called off the 21-day event's finale, which had been due to finish at 7 p.m. local time.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez voiced support for those rallying against the Israeli team. Speaking at a Socialist Party gathering in Malaga, he said: "Today marks the end of the Vuelta. Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine."
Read more: Spain backs call to expel Israeli team from Vuelta amid Gaza protests
The decision to end the race comes amid global outrage over the Gaza genocide, with Spain emerging as a prominent stage for protest. The scale of the mobilizations at the Vuelta reflected mounting public anger in Europe and highlighted how "Israel's" presence in international competitions is facing unprecedented backlash.
After the competition was called off, confrontations escalated, with demonstrators hurling bottles of water and other objects at police.
Los manifestantes propalestina ocupan parte de la calle de Gran Vía, recorrido que forma parte de La Vuelta a España y por el que se espera que pasen los ciclistas.https://t.co/Xk35b2tIUZ pic.twitter.com/Zva1TgZOrf
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 14, 2025
