Spain Vuelta Cycling Race Rocked by Pro-Palestine Protests Over Gaza War/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pro-Palestine protests have disrupted six of the last 10 stages of Spain’s prestigious Vuelta cycling race. Demonstrators targeted the Israeli-owned team, demanding its exclusion and amplifying Spain’s already strong criticism of Israel’s Gaza offensive. The disruptions have sparked a diplomatic clash, putting global sports at the center of Middle East tensions.
Vuelta Cycling Race Protests Quick Look
- Protests escalate: Palestinian flags and chants filled stage routes, causing crashes.
- Government stance: Spain backs protesters, calling Gaza war “genocide.”
- Team under fire: Israel Premier Tech riders avoid media, remove logos.
- Athletes worried: Riders fear further disruptions, possible spread to other races.
- Diplomatic fallout: Spain imposes embargo; Israel accuses Madrid of antisemitism.
- Next flashpoint: 1,500 police deployed for Sunday’s final stage in Madrid.
Spain Vuelta Cycling Race Rocked by Pro-Palestine Protests Over Gaza War
Deep Look
The Spanish Vuelta, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, has become an unlikely but powerful stage for protests against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Over the past 10 days, demonstrators waving Palestinian flags have disrupted six race stages, at times blocking roads, clashing with police, and even causing crashes in the peloton.
For Rosana Prieto, a small-town alderperson in northwestern Spain, the Vuelta presented an opportunity to amplify voices far from political centers. She and fellow activists positioned themselves at televised points along the route, ensuring their protest against what they call Israel’s “genocide” reached a global audience. “The Vuelta is our only international spotlight,” she explained.
Israel’s nearly two-year-long Gaza campaign, launched after Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack, has drawn fierce criticism in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has recognized a Palestinian state, supported South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and recently announced an arms embargo and fuel ban. His government argues that neutrality is impossible when tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have died.
Protesters contend that if Russian teams were banned from global sports over the war in Ukraine, Israeli teams should face the same exclusion. Spain’s government has publicly echoed those calls. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has said he supports banning Israel Premier Tech, the Israeli-owned team at the center of the protests. Sports Minister Pilar Alegría added, “Sports cannot be isolated from the world that surrounds them.”
For race organizers and athletes, the protests have been disruptive and dangerous. Police have arrested more than 20 demonstrators and deployed hundreds of officers daily, but securing the entire winding 3,100-kilometer route has proved impossible. Cyclists have threatened to withdraw if safety continues to be jeopardized. Some teams accused protesters of throwing tacks on roads and striking riders with flagpoles.
Israel Premier Tech, owned by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, has tried to maintain a low profile. The squad removed its name from jerseys mid-race and avoided press conferences, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the team for not “giving in to intimidation.”
Yet the political stakes extend far beyond cycling. Spain’s hardening stance against Israel has ignited a diplomatic firestorm. Israeli officials have branded Sánchez’s actions “antisemitic,” while Spain insists it is standing against war crimes. The European Union is also feeling the ripple effects: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated suspending parts of trade ties with Israel, and the Netherlands has threatened to boycott Eurovision if Israel participates.
Cycling stars, including Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard and Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar, voiced concern that the unrest at the Vuelta could spill into other races. Pogačar noted that riders are “a little scared” as protests have already followed competitions abroad, including in Canada.
As the Vuelta heads into its final stage in Madrid, Spanish authorities plan to deploy 1,500 police officers in anticipation of further demonstrations. With activists vowing to protest until the race’s conclusion, the cycling spectacle has transformed into a vivid symbol of how global sport is being pulled into geopolitical conflict.
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