The final stage of Spain’s Vuelta cycling race was cancelled Sunday as pro-Palestine protesters flooded Madrid’s streets, disrupting the race just before its finish.
Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked the streets of Madrid, forcing organisers to cancel the final stage for the first time in the event’s history.
Protesters marched through the course, toppling barriers and prompting police to respond with tear gas and charges. The disruptions occurred as cyclists, including Danish race leader Jonas Vingegaard, approached the finish line. Despite the cancellation, Vingegaard was declared the winner.
Earlier, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised protesters, commending “the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine.”
Opposition leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso criticised the remarks, warning Sanchez would be “directly responsible for every incident.”
The race faced protests at multiple stages, prompting Madrid authorities to deploy 1,100 police officers and 400 Guardia Civil members for security along the final 106.6-kilometre leg between Alalpardo and the city centre.
The rallies, organised by the Palestinian Committee of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), specifically targeted the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. Political leaders from IU, Podemos, and Más Madrid backed the demonstrations.
Vingegaard expressed understanding for the protests, telling local media, “Everyone has the right to protest. I understand the reason, but it’s a shame that it has to happen here.”
Tensions persisted until the penultimate stage on Saturday, when around 100 activists blocked the road 18 kilometres from the finish at Bola del Mundo, resulting in one arrest for assaulting a police officer. Podemos leaders Ione Belarra and Irene Montero also participated in parallel protests in Cercedilla, forcing alterations to the route.
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