Palestinian demonstrators have repeatedly targeted Israeli technical cycling teams during races in Spain.
Released on September 14th, 2025
The pro-Palestinian demonstration in Madrid, along with Danish rider Jonas Wingegard, forced the abandonment of Vuelta, the final stage of Vuelta’s Espana cycling race.
Protesters blocked a section of the Spanish capital’s race route on Sunday and stepped onto the road past a metal barrier. Police were deployed in large quantities, but the race was abandoned.
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The organizers confirmed the event was suspended. “The race is over,” the spokesman told Reuters.
Spanish authorities said 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters took them to the streets of Madrid on Sunday.
The protest has repeatedly targeted Israeli Remier’s technology cycling teams over the war with Palestinians in Gaza, an Israeli-Canadian property developer owned by Israeli-Canadian property developer Sylvan Adams.
Adams, the president of the Israeli region of the World Jewish Conference, is called by his organization “committed to promoting Israel’s global image.”
The demonstrations have disrupted multiple stages in recent weeks, with some riders threatening to quit after the lockdown fell on track.
In Bilbao, Stage 11 of the race was unwinnable after protesters blocked approaching the finish last week and no winner was declared, but on Tuesday they forced Galicia’s stage 16 to be shortened after facing police near the route.
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed in Madrid on Sunday to secure the finale of the 21-day race in Madrid, and was scheduled to finish at 7pm (17:00 GMT).
The race organizers denied that they were considering cancelling earlier stages, but they had proposed Israel’s technology withdrawal to protect the safety of other teams.
The participation of Israeli Pumier technology has attracted widespread criticism in Spain, which has strong support for the Palestinian cause.
Freelance journalist Lily Mayers told Al Jazeera: “Thousands of protesters gathered this afternoon… with flags and flags supporting Palestine. At 6:30pm (16:30pm GMT), crowds flooded the streets, pushing down a wall and clashing with police.
“In response, police used tear gas to push them back on the protesters.”
This week, the Spanish government recalls the ambassador from Tel Aviv and officially acknowledged the Palestinian state last year, while banning two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country.
Pilar Alegria’s sports minister had argued that Israeli teams should be banned from international competition, similar to the restrictions imposed on Russian teams after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly praised Israeli Pumier’s technology for continuing race despite protests.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressed support for pro-Palestinian protesters. At a Socialist Party rally held in Malaga on Sunday, he said: “Today marks the end of Vuelta.”
“Our respect and recognition of athletes (IS), admiration for Spaniards who mobilize for causes like Palestine,” he said. “Today, Spain shines as an example and as a source of pride. This is an example of the international community, where we see Spain take a step forward in defending human rights.”
