At the vuelta again disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests against the Israel-Premier Tech team

Egan Bernal (Ineos) imposed in the 16th stage of the Spanish Tour, a shortened stage with 8 kilometers due to pro-Palestinian protests.

“14 km before the end was told that it was over and I did not know exactly if the finish line was on the banner of 8 or a little further. We were told that at 3 km the road was blocked. We can only respect the organizers' decision,” He explained to AS Josean Fernández Matxin, the manager of the UAE, shortly after finding out the final decision.

The protests of the protesters in favor of Palestine, who demanded the withdrawal of the Israel-Premier Tech team from the race, caused an interruption of the race 3.5 kilometers before the finish line and prevented the stage from end where it was provided.

Previously, at km 140, in the town of Morgadans, the protesters had cut a tree trunk, which fell on the road, completely blocking the traffic. Subsequently, the security forces managed to unlock the road.

In Morgadans at the Bottom of Alto del Prado, a Tree Was Deliberately Cut Down to Block the Passage of #Lavuelta25 riders. Police and Race Organizers Quickly Cleared the Obstruction. (via @Spaziociclismo) pic.twitter.com/cpdstrw4sb

– La Flamme Rouge (@Laflammerouge16) September 9, 2025

The atmosphere in Spain, where the prime minister declared the situation in Gaza as a genocide, led to the intensification of the protests, the 11th stage of Bilbao being interrupted before arrival and without declaring a winner. Other stages were affected when the protesters invaded the road.

In the 10th stage, Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Wanty) fell when the platoon was forced to bypass the protesters on the route. In the 15th stage, on Sunday, a person running to the road has stumbled and fell, causing a sudden movement in the platoon, who led to the injury of Javier Romo (Movistar), who abandoned on Tuesday.

Israel-Premier Tech, firm answer

Israel-Premier Tech refused to leave Vuelta, qualifying such a movement as “a dangerous precedent”. They eliminated the word “Israel” from their shirts and continued to compete, despite the fact that Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares was pronounced in favor of leaving the team.

The leader of the race, Jonas Vingegaard, expressed his sympathy for the protesters, declaring for the Danish TV2 channel, quoted by cyclingnews.com: “I think that those who protest do here because they need a forum to be heard. They want the media to give them this possibility, so they do it here. Of course, it is a shame that it happens in La Vuelta, I think many of us, cyclists, we think so, but again, I think they are desperate.”

The protests continue every day and, according to the ads, will continue until Madrid. Several protesters were arrested on Tuesday, as in Bilbao and Asturias.

🔴 Última Hora

To organizión de #Lavuelta25 Ha Communicado Que at Stage 16 Complete the 8 Kilómetros from Línea de Meta Por Las Protestas Cerca from Meta En Mos (Pontevedra)

Así Estaba to the metal meta -minutos #Vueltartve9s
📹 @Angelaa_fs https://t.co/edxlsngk pic.twitter.com/fss1xbhz3c

– Rtve noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 9, 2025

“Israel outside La Vuelta” is the most often repeated slogan in every protest. Vuelta, as an organizer of the race, does not have the power to prevent participation or to expel the Israel team, who participated because he won a place being one of the two best teams in the Proteams ranking (2nd place).

This would be the jurisdiction of higher courts, such as the International Cycling Union (UCI), but so far Israel, as a country, is not banned in any sports competition.