The final stage of Spain’s biggest bike race, the Vuelta a España, came to a sudden halt today. Pro-Palestine protestors stormed the planned circuit in Madrid. This led to the stage being canceled and 22 police officers getting hurt. Two people were arrested during the chaotic scenes.
Police sources told the EFE news agency about the arrests. Both individuals face charges of public disorder. Several demonstrations caused major trouble along the race path. These disruptions eventually forced organizers to call off the 21st stage. Even the planned podium ceremonies had to be scrapped.
The 22 injured officers suffered bruises and other injuries. Protestors threw objects and tore down protective barriers. Despite a huge security setup, chaos still erupted. Madrid had 1,100 police agents and 400 civil guards on duty. It was the biggest security presence for any sporting event there.
The stage was supposed to finish at Cibeles Square. But it stopped 56 kilometers from the finish line. Demonstrators took over the streets. They showed support for the Palestinian cause. Their signs accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. They also spoke out against the Israel-Premier Tech team competing in the race. This security operation was the largest since the 2022 NATO summit in the city. Yet, the protestors could not be stopped. Their main aim was to protest the Israel-Premier Tech team’s presence.
The disruption robbed some top cyclists of their moment. Jonas Vingegaard, riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, won the Vuelta. He is from Denmark. He missed his podium celebration. Portugal’s João Almeida, of UAE Emirates, also missed out. He finished second, his best result ever in a Grand Tour.
Spain’s government and race organizers had a difficult talk. They suggested the Israeli team should leave the Vuelta. But the team refused. They did not want to set a “dangerous precedent.” The International Cycling Union (UCI) also weighed in. The UCI condemned the incidents. However, they did not make any decisions. In 2021, the UCI banned Russian teams. They also removed their national flag from Russian cyclists.
This year’s Vuelta has seen many problems. Constant course changes marked the race. One stage was canceled completely. Another finished without a declared winner. One other stage even had an improvised finish line. Today’s incidents were just the latest challenge.
The protests come amid ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have an offensive underway there. Over 64,600 people have died in the territory. Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007. The Israeli offensive started after a Hamas attack. That attack happened in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel announced an operation to take Gaza City. This city is in the northern part of the enclave. Israel faces accusations of genocide. It is also accused of using starvation as a weapon of war. Israel denies these accusations. The UN declared a famine in northern Gaza in August. This is the first time such a declaration has been made in the Middle East.