Spain backs call to expel Israeli team from Vuelta amid Gaza protests
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Spain's foreign minister backed calls to expel Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta a España after Gaza-related protests, linking the controversy to Madrid's broader push for sanctions and recognition of Palestine.
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People hold Palestinian flags as they try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, September 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Spain's foreign minister has voiced support for excluding the Israeli team Israel-Premier Tech from the 2025 Vuelta a España, Spain's annual road cycling race, as mounting pro-Palestinian demonstrations expose global outrage over the Gaza genocide.
In an interview with Radio Nacional de España (RNE), Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said he was uncomfortable with the team's presence. "I would favor its removal," he stated, while stressing that the decision ultimately lies with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
He added that Spain could not continue its relations with the Israeli regime under normal circumstances and that the international community must send a clear message to Israel in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Pedal Politics
The controversy escalated after protesters forced organizers to neutralize stage 11 in Bilbao, cutting the race short before the finish. Earlier, activists blocked the team from competing in the stage 5 time trial in Figueres. Stage 13 also saw a brief interruption before police restored order. Vuelta technical director Kiko García warned that the Israeli team's continued participation risked further turmoil, saying, "Either a voluntary withdrawal by the team or intervention from the UCI" was needed to protect the race.
Hoy estamos en Avilés y seguimos exigiendo que se retire al equipo israelí de la Vuelta a España. Fin al blanqueamiento del genocidio del pueblo palestino.
— PCE Asturias (@pcasturias) September 6, 2025
Viva Palestina libre 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/AczAiNF8tE
Political voices in Spain have amplified the call. Left-wing party Izquierda Unida demanded the team's exclusion during the first week, citing "Israel's" actions in Gaza. The protests have coincided with Spain's broader foreign policy realignment. In May 2025, Madrid urged the international community to impose sanctions and embargoes on "Israel," noting that more than 64,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza.
In May 2024, Spain, alongside Ireland and Norway, officially recognized the State of Palestine, a step Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described as a "moral responsibility and a commitment to peace, justice, and international law."
Race Diplomacy
The cycling dispute has sparked wider debate in the sport. García suggested that "by being here it doesn't help the safety of everyone else." Meanwhile, Israel-Premier Tech insisted it will continue competing, warning that any exclusion "sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the team's decision not to withdraw, writing on X: "Great job to Sylvan and Israel's cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud."
The UCI condemned the disruptions, stressing that cycling "should under no circumstances be used as a tool for punishment," but has yet to act on Albares' call.
Read more: Spain cancels $325M Israeli anti-tank missile deal
Spain has been at the forefront of EU debates on "Israel" policy. Since November 2023, Madrid has suspended arms export licenses to "Israel" and has pressed the European Union to reconsider the EU-Israel Association Agreement, arguing that the war in Gaza breaches the treaty's human rights clause. Officials in Madrid have warned that failing to act would damage the EU's credibility on human rights.
