The final stage of the Vuelta a España should have been a celebration. Instead, Madrid became the backdrop for a dramatic clash, with pro-Palestinian protests forcing the cancellation of the race’s grand finale. The fallout was immediate, pitting the world of cycling against the Spanish government.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) expressed strong disappointment on Monday. They openly criticized the Spanish Prime Minister and his government. The UCI felt that showing support for actions taken during a sports event was wrong. Such actions, they noted, could easily mess up the event.
In a public statement, the UCI said this stance goes against core Olympic values. These values include mutual respect and working for peace. The cycling body even suggested Spain’s ability to host major international sports events might now be in question. The chaos in Madrid had clearly left its mark.
Despite the UCI’s concerns, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood firm that same day. He reaffirmed his admiration for the protestors. Sánchez stated, “We feel immense respect and deep admiration for a Spanish civil society that mobilizes against injustice and defends its convictions peacefully.”
Sunday’s events were certainly not peaceful on the track. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors swarmed the final circuit of the 21st and last stage of the Spanish race. They blocked the peloton just 56 kilometers from the finish line. Their protest targeted the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team.
The disruption led to serious consequences. Two people were arrested for public disorder. Police reported 22 officers were injured during the incidents. The race organizers had no choice but to cancel the 21st stage. All podium ceremonies were also called off.
This meant João Almeida, riding for UAE Emirates, missed his moment. He couldn’t officially celebrate his second-place finish overall. Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike took the general classification title. Almeida had equaled the best-ever result for a Portuguese rider in a Grand Tour. He matched Joaquim Agostinho, who was also second in the Vuelta back in 1974.
Madrid had put on its largest security operation for a sports event ever. It was the biggest since the 2022 NATO summit. Yet, even this massive effort couldn’t stop the protestors from breaking through.
This wasn’t the Vuelta’s only problem this year. The race had already faced many route changes. One stage was canceled entirely, another ended without a winner, and one even had an improvised finish line. Sunday’s incidents were just the final act in a troubled race.
The protests themselves are rooted in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israeli forces are conducting an offensive there. This operation has led to over 64,600 deaths in the territory, which has been governed by Hamas since 2007. The offensive began after a Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel has announced plans to take Gaza City, in the northern part of the enclave. It has also faced accusations of genocide and using hunger as a weapon of war, which it denies. The United Nations declared a famine in North Gaza in August, a situation unseen in the Middle East before this.
