Madrid, Spain
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The final phase of Vuelta A Espana was suspended on Sunday after several large Palestinian protests disrupt major cycling events in the Spanish capital, Madrid.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters took the final distance of the race route at Paseo del Prado in the city centre after a group of protesters pushed away the barriers of crowds lined the road.
Confusion began around 6pm on Sunday after demonstrators gathered to protest Israeli Boomier’s technical team’s participation in the race.
As CNN witnessed, Spanish national police officers tried to disperse the crowds that took up the final miles of the race route that reached the finish line but failed.
Police deployed tear gas to clear people in the area, but several protesters clashed with police and used fences that closed the scene as a makeshift barrier to form a barricade in the middle of the road.
A spokesman for the Spanish national police told CNN that at least 22 police officers were injured during the clash. Martin Aguirre, Spanish government representative for Madrid, said two people have been arrested in connection with Sunday’s protests in the capital.
Organizers posted on social media late Sunday that the race ended early for “security reasons” and that “no podiums.”
Several previous phases of the race held before Sunday have been shortened or altered due to similar protests against Israeli war in Gaza.
The Israel Premier technology expressed regret following the event, resulting in the cancellation of the race finale and traditional podium ceremony.
“Unfortunately, these aspects continued in Madrid this afternoon as protesters reached the finishing circuit around the Spanish capital. After the stage was neutralized multiple times, the number of protesters blocking routes and damage caused by the infrastructure of the race led to the race finale and the cancellation of the traditional podium.
Team Director Daryl Impey praised the way riders handled the situation. “This was a difficult race for us and with everything we’ve dealt with on the roads, it was a difficult race for us,” Impey said in a statement.
The clash on Sunday came hours after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he praised pro-Palestinian protesters for disrupting the race.
“Today marks the end of Vuelta,” Sanchez told a Socialist Party rally in the southern city of Malaga on Sunday. “Our respect and recognition of athletes and our praise for Spaniards who mobilize for just causes like Palestine.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa denounced late Sunday that Sanchez and his government were called “stigma” to his country and encouraged protesters to take them to the streets of Madrid through “his instigation” in a post X.
The Vuelta Competition is Spain’s annual multi-stage professional road cycling race, consisting of 21 stages completed in a three-week competition.
