Final stage of Spain's Vuelta abandoned after police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters
The final stage of Spain's Vuelta cycling race was abandoned on Sunday afternoon as cyclists were entering Madrid after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in the Spanish capital's centre. Police fired tear gas at the crowds as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters knocked down security barriers and surged onto the course.
14/09/2025 -
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Sarah MORRIS
Police face Pro-Palestinians protesters after security barriers were taken down during the 21st and last stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2025, a 101 km race between Alalpardo and Madrid, in Madrid on September 14, 2025. © Thomas Coex, AFP
02:16
The final stage of the three-week Vuelta cycling race was abandoned Sunday after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters invaded part of the course where the cyclists were supposed to pass through. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and charged the crowd.
On Gran Via, where cyclists were due to pass multiple times, protesters knocked down barriers and marched into the road, some chanting for a boycott of Israel.
Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike was declared the race's winner after organisers cancelled the final stage.
"It is still unknown whether there will be a winning ceremony with the situation as it is, with thousands of protesters filling downtown Madrid. The race has been officially ended and Jonas Vingegaard is the winner," organisers said.
Spanish authorities estimated that more than 100,000 people took part in the protests across Madrid.
Madrid's Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida blamed Sanchez for the race's abrupt end.
"(It's) violence that the prime minister is directly responsible for due to his statements today in the morning instigating the protests," Martinez-Almeida said.
"Today is the saddest day since I became mayor of this great city."
Several members of the leftist government have publicly supported the movement in a country where support for the Palestinian cause is strong.
Spain, which recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024, has been a vocal critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Sanchez's government announced new measures targeting Israeli military supplies earlier this month.
Protesters briefly breached reinforced security and attempted to block the road during the penultimate stage in the Guadarrama mountains outside Madrid on Saturday, forcing cyclists to swerve around them.
The right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP), which runs the Madrid region and the Spanish capital's council, also reacted furiously.
Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo's response on social media was scathing after the prestigious cycling event ended with police charging at protesters and firing tear gas.
"The government has allowed and induced the non-completion of the Vuelta and, in this way, an international embarrassment televised worldwide," he said.
The PP head of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, wrote on X that Sanchez "becomes directly responsible for any altercation that happens... what damage to our sport and our country!"
At the other end of the political spectrum, far-left Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz hailed Spanish society for "giving a lesson to the world".
"Israel cannot compete in any event while it continues to commit a genocide," she wrote on Instagram, days after the Israeli government barred her from entry for her criticism of the war in Gaza.
Israel-Premier Tech, owned by Israeli-Canadian property developer Sylvan Adams, is a private outfit and not a state team, but was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing to compete despite the vehement protests.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
The final stage of Spain's Vuelta cycling race was abandoned on Sunday afternoon as cyclists were entering Madrid after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in the Spanish capital's centre. Police fired tear gas at the crowds as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters knocked down security barriers and surged onto the course.
14/09/2025 -
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Sarah MORRIS
Police face Pro-Palestinians protesters after security barriers were taken down during the 21st and last stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2025, a 101 km race between Alalpardo and Madrid, in Madrid on September 14, 2025. © Thomas Coex, AFP
02:16
The final stage of the three-week Vuelta cycling race was abandoned Sunday after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters invaded part of the course where the cyclists were supposed to pass through. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and charged the crowd.
On Gran Via, where cyclists were due to pass multiple times, protesters knocked down barriers and marched into the road, some chanting for a boycott of Israel.
Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike was declared the race's winner after organisers cancelled the final stage.
"It is still unknown whether there will be a winning ceremony with the situation as it is, with thousands of protesters filling downtown Madrid. The race has been officially ended and Jonas Vingegaard is the winner," organisers said.
Spanish authorities estimated that more than 100,000 people took part in the protests across Madrid.
Pro-Palestinian protesters knock down security barriers during Stage 21 of the Vuelta in Madrid on September 14, 2025. © Ana Beltran, Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had earlier said that the pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked the three-week filled him with "pride" as large demonstrations met the race's final stage in Madrid.
The protests, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over the devastating war in Gaza, have disrupted several stages of one of cycling's three grand tours and cast doubt on whether the 21-day race could be completed.
The activism has forced some stages to be shortened and occasionally caused crashes as demonstrators burst onto the course, prompting criticism for threatening rider safety and harming Spain's image.
In his first public comments on the debate, Sanchez expressed his "recognition and full respect for the athletes, but also our admiration for a people like Spain's which mobilises for just causes, like Palestine".
"Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defence of human rights," he told a Socialist party gathering in Malaga.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had earlier said that the pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked the three-week filled him with "pride" as large demonstrations met the race's final stage in Madrid.
The protests, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over the devastating war in Gaza, have disrupted several stages of one of cycling's three grand tours and cast doubt on whether the 21-day race could be completed.
The activism has forced some stages to be shortened and occasionally caused crashes as demonstrators burst onto the course, prompting criticism for threatening rider safety and harming Spain's image.
In his first public comments on the debate, Sanchez expressed his "recognition and full respect for the athletes, but also our admiration for a people like Spain's which mobilises for just causes, like Palestine".
"Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defence of human rights," he told a Socialist party gathering in Malaga.
Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares speaks to FRANCE 24 about Spain's decision to recognise the state of Palestine. © FRANCE 24
10:47
10:47
Madrid's Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida blamed Sanchez for the race's abrupt end.
"(It's) violence that the prime minister is directly responsible for due to his statements today in the morning instigating the protests," Martinez-Almeida said.
"Today is the saddest day since I became mayor of this great city."
Several members of the leftist government have publicly supported the movement in a country where support for the Palestinian cause is strong.
Spain, which recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024, has been a vocal critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Sanchez's government announced new measures targeting Israeli military supplies earlier this month.
Protesters briefly breached reinforced security and attempted to block the road during the penultimate stage in the Guadarrama mountains outside Madrid on Saturday, forcing cyclists to swerve around them.
The right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP), which runs the Madrid region and the Spanish capital's council, also reacted furiously.
Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo's response on social media was scathing after the prestigious cycling event ended with police charging at protesters and firing tear gas.
"The government has allowed and induced the non-completion of the Vuelta and, in this way, an international embarrassment televised worldwide," he said.
The PP head of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, wrote on X that Sanchez "becomes directly responsible for any altercation that happens... what damage to our sport and our country!"
At the other end of the political spectrum, far-left Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz hailed Spanish society for "giving a lesson to the world".
"Israel cannot compete in any event while it continues to commit a genocide," she wrote on Instagram, days after the Israeli government barred her from entry for her criticism of the war in Gaza.
Israel-Premier Tech, owned by Israeli-Canadian property developer Sylvan Adams, is a private outfit and not a state team, but was hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing to compete despite the vehement protests.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Sport
Issued on: 15/09/2025 -
FRANCE24
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta and forced organizers to cut the race short on Sunday, capping a campaign of disruptions to the Grand Tour cycling event.
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