Pro-Palestine protesters and police clash at the Vuelta's 2025 cycling event. Image: AFP/Getty Images via Independent.
(The Post News) – Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Madrid’s Vuelta España cycling event finale premier, stopping the final leg of the three-week race.
At about 6 p.m. on Sunday, organizers reported that hundreds of demonstrators gathered to oppose the Israel-Premier Tech team’s involvement in the event. Police were called as protesters created a blockade at the final stretch of the race. As Spain’s National Police attempted to disperse the crowd, protesters pushed the route’s barricades forward, prompting officers to fire tear gas. The confrontation escalated into violent clashes that injured 22 officers.
Race organizers later confirmed that the 21-stage cycling event would not complete its final stage, noting that smaller protests had already targeted earlier legs of the tour, but none on this scale. Israel–Premier Tech expressed regret over the cancellation in a statement. The disruption came just hours after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised citizens for “[mobilizing] for just causes like Palestine,” while offering respect to participants in the race.
Who won Vuelta’s 2025 cycling event?
As a result of the cancelled stage, Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, who had been leading going into the finale, was declared the overall winner of the Vuelta a España. Vinegaard is a Visma-Lease bike rider who won the Grand Tour in 2024 but was unable to cross the finish line this year due to the protest.
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