Cycling after Vuelta Controversy: Backlash over Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations
In a dramatic turn of events during the 80th Vuelta a España, pro-Palestine demonstrators disrupted the race in Bilbao, targeting the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team. The protests, which led to the cancellation and interruption of race stages in 2025, began during the fifth stage and escalated on the eleventh.
The Israel-Premier Tech team, representing Israel, faced a disruption during the team time trial on the fifth stage and again on the eleventh, resulting in an abrupt end to the stage. The behaviour of the protesters was described as dangerous and counterproductive, with four police officers injured during the protests.
The UCI, the governing body of international cycling, reaffirmed the political neutrality of sports organizations within the Olympic movement, expressing that sport, and cycling in particular, should never be used as a means of punishment. The UCI, along with the Vuelta organizers, condemned the Palestinian protests during the eleventh stage of the 80th edition.
Despite the incidents, the Israel-Premier Tech team announced its decision to continue in the Vuelta. The team's concerns were about sending a dangerous signal to other teams, but they decided to persevere. The Vuelta organizers, in turn, plan to continue working closely with the authorities on the remaining stages to ensure the safety of the riders, which was their "absolute priority."
The race was briefly stopped in the neutral zone before police could clear the road. Three arrests were made during the protests on the eleventh stage, and numerous protesters were waving Palestinian flags in the finish area. Spanish media reported the incidents, creating a tense situation during the first pass, with security forces barely managing to prevent protesters from entering the course.
As the cyclists rolled slowly towards the finish in Bilbao after reaching the three-kilometer mark on the eleventh stage, the race jury neutralized the stage three kilometers from the finish without declaring a winner. The race will resume with the twelfth stage, and the Vuelta organizers are hopeful for a peaceful and successful conclusion.
