Pro-Palestine protester disrupts finish at Tour de France
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A pro-Palestine protester disrupted Stage 11 of the Tour de France, targeting the Israel-Premier Tech team as Jonas Abrahamsen sprinted to victory.
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Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen and Switzerland's Mauro Schmid sprint as a protester tries to cross the finish line during the Tour de France in Toulouse, France, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 (AP)
A protester wearing an "Israel out of the Tour" t-shirt ran onto the course before being quickly restrained by a security officer during Wednesday's 11th stage of the Tour de France, as two riders were sprinting toward the finish line on the final straight.
Waving a koufiyyeh and coming within less than 25 metres of the finish line, the protester disrupted the race as Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen edged out Swiss champion Mauro Schmid for victory in the 11th stage.
A police officer assigned to the Tour de France confirmed to Reuters that the protester was arrested and subsequently transferred to local law enforcement authorities.
Further demonstrations are expected along the Tour de France route, according to Reuters sources familiar with the situation.
"Israel" is represented in the Tour de France by the Israel-Premier Tech team, though none of the squad's riders in this year's race are from "Israel".
The team received additional security measures during the Tour, including police presence near the team bus and plainclothes officers escorting them at the team presentation in Lille.
