Over 1,000 cops were mobilized in Madrid last Sunday to protect the finish of the 21-day Vuelta a España cycling race. In response to huge pro-Palestinian protests, organizers were forced to cancel the gala at the last minute. Protesters flooded the streets, jumping over metal barricades to disrupt key parts of the race course. Their heavy-handed tactics were met with widespread outrage as police violently confronted the peaceful protesters.
Sunday’s protests were the largest yet, with Spanish police estimating that nearly 100,000 people joined the protests. Back to close Spain has been a bastion of the pro-Palestinian movement, with huge swaths of Spanish citizens showing near-universal solidarity with Palestine. The participation of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team in the Vuelta a Espana drew widespread criticism and targeted demonstrations throughout the race.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez voiced his support for the protesters, saying “Today is the last day of the Vuelta.” Recent federal initiatives take a stab at siding with this alignment. Following the bombing of a hospital in Gaza, Spain recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and subsequently barred two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country. Last year, Spain became the first major EU country to officially recognize a Palestinian state, demonstrating its leadership on pro-Palestine efforts.
The protests blocked several Vuelta a Espana stages in recent weeks, raising alarm among bikers and cyclists. This led to some competitors threatening to boycott the event over blockades which caused dangerous spills on the racecourse. Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria had said that letting Israeli teams take part in international competitions was a “double standard.” This ruling has only added to the controversy swirling around the event.
As the strike developed, organizers effectively made the final announcement suspending the Vuelta a Espana. It’s where the Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard emerged victorious as this year’s overall winner of the race. All the while, law enforcement fought to reclaim order among the free-for-all. These protests always targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team, owned by Sylvan Adams. This same team has endured tremendous scrutiny for Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
“The race is over,” – spokesperson for the Vuelta a Espana
