https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/14/jonas-vingegaard-wins-vuelta-a-espana-pro-palestinian-protests
Vingegaard wins Vuelta after final stage cancelled amid pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid
The final stage of the Vuelta a España
was abandoned in chaotic and violent scenes, after groups of
pro-Palestine protesters swamped the finish line area and presentation
podium in central Madrid on Sunday.
As huge
crowds engulfed the finish area, the race leader Jonas Vingegaard, his
Visma Lease-a-bike team and the rest of the peloton were forced to turn
back from the city centre, with more than 55km still to race on stage
21. In an official statement, the Vuelta organisers said: “For security
reasons, stage 21 of La Vuelta has been ended early. There will be no
podium ceremony.”
Spanish
media reported that about 3,000 protesters were at the finish line and
it was also claimed that there had been violent exchanges between police
and protesters. Security sources told Spanish media they had “to charge
at the protesters who were throwing barriers and bottles”. The Spanish
government later said more than 100,000 people were at the rally in
Madrid.
After days of vociferous protests
directed towards the Israel Premier Tech team, extra police had been
brought into Madrid in a bid to secure the final stage, in what was the
largest security operation since the city hosted a Nato summit in 2022.
A
huge crowd of protesters pushed over race barriers, close to the Plaza
de Colón and Gran Vía, as security forces lost control of the situation.
Police charged some of the protesters and fired teargas, but the race
route was overwhelmed.
As the peloton arrived
in Madrid, with 56km to race, riders at the rear were delayed and also
pushed by protesters holding anti‑Israel banners. The race organisers
then stopped the front of the race and lengthy discussions with the
Guardia Civil led to the decision to cancel the stage.
Soon
afterwards, a glum-looking Vingegaard was seen sharing a muted
celebratory handshake with his teammates, as he made his way directly to
his team hotel.
Barriers are smashed by pro-Palestine protesters at the finish line of the final stage in Madrid. Photograph: Ana Beltran/Reuters
Before
the stage the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, had expressed his
“admiration” for the demonstrators. Speaking in Málaga, he said: “We
would like to express our gratitude and absolute respect for the
athletes but also our admiration for the Spanish people who mobilise for
just causes, such as Palestine.”
The Israeli
foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said: “He encouraged protesters to take
to the streets. The pro-Palestinian mob listened to the inciting
messages and attacked La Vuelta. The sporting event that has always been
a source of pride for Spain has been cancelled. Sánchez and his government: shame on Spain!”
The
collapse of the third biggest Grand Tour of the year has plunged World
Tour racing into crisis, with the continued presence of the Israel
Premier Tech team, recently endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the object
of the increasingly enraged protest groups at the roadside.
A
week ago, as pressure increased on the team, owned by the billionaire
entrepreneur Sylvan Adams, to withdraw from the Vuelta, Netanyahu
posted: “Great job to Sylvan and Israel’s cycling team for not giving in
to hatred and intimidation. You make Israel proud!”
There
were some clashes between protesters and police, who had mounted
Madrid’s biggest security operation since Spain hosted the Nato summit
in 2022. Photograph: Rodrigo Jimenez/EPA
The disruptions throughout the three-week race affected multiple stages and led to the cancellation of planned stage finishes and the shortening of the race distance.
Vingegaard,
speaking last Monday to Danish media, said of the protests: “People do
it for a reason. It’s horrible what’s happening currently and I think
those protesting do so here, because they need a forum to be heard.”
The
Tour de France Grand Depart takes place in Barcelona in July next year
and Spanish protest groups are targeting the French race. The
Palestinian campaign for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel
told Swiss media “protests will continue at cycling races as long as
hypocritical western institutions absolve Israel”, adding: “The
immediate finish line is the end of the genocide.”
Last
week the civil disobedience group Futuro Vegetal said it was “very
likely” that there would be further protests in Barcelona and added that
“protesting at the Tour de France is the least we can do”.
Despite
the cancellation of the stage, Vingegaard still won the race overall,
from the Portuguese João Almeida in second place. It was the Dane’s
third Grand Tour victory, after his wins in the Tour de France in 2022
and 2023. Tom Pidcock, double Olympic gold medallist in mountain biking,
took his first Grand Tour podium, finishing third overall. The planned
podium ceremony and final presentation ceremony were cancelled.