Article by David Istrate – published on Sunday, September 14, 2025 23:37 / Updated Sunday, September 14, 2025 23:45
The last stage of the Spain tour, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, ended prematurely, after the pro-Palestine protesters entered the circuit and blocked the normal race.
This year's edition of the Spanish Tour was full of incidents, different stages being affected by pro-Palestine demonstrators, who expressed their revolt on the presence of the Premier Tech team in the race.
Madrid streets were embedded by pro-palestine protesters
According to cyclingnews.com, they caused the partial suspension of the stages with number 11 and 16 and the last moment of the routes in the 18th and 20th stage.
The situation has escalated strongly in the last stage of the Spanish tour, planned in Madrid, the capital of Spain. The protesters who support the cause of Palestine in the war with Israel passed the law enforcement, torn down barricades and entered the roads, affecting the good walking of the race.
As a result, the leadership of the Spain Tour made the decision to cancel the stage, and the cyclists were stopped when they had about 60 kilometers. According to the aforementioned site, it is for the first time in 1978, 47 years ago, when a major tour is stopped before the last stage, due to protesters.
The last time also happened in the tour of Spain, in 1978, in San Sebastian, a city in the Basque Country. Then the Basque protesters threw logs on the roads and blocked the French Jean-Rene Bernaudeau.
Los Manifestants Propalestina Occupant part of Calle de Gran Vía, Recrido Que Form part of Vuelta A españa y por El Que is Espera Que Pasen Los Ciccliste.https: //t.co/xk35b2tiuz pic.twitter.com/zva1tglerf
– Rtve noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 14, 2025
Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid: “The saddest day since I am mayor”
“The prime minister is directly responsible for violence, because of the statements given this morning that instigated the protests. Today is the saddest day since I became the mayor of this great town”, Said Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, quoted by Reuters.
Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, had expressed his admiration for “Spanish citizens who mobilized for causes such as Palestine.”
“A shame for Spain. Today he encouraged the protesters to go out. The pro-Palestina mafia has heard the incitement messages and destroyed the tour of Spain,” wrote X Gideon Saar, Israel's Foreign Minister.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023 after Hamas and other Palestine military groups launched a surprise attack on Israel. The conflict between Israel and Palestine is much older, and tensions persist for decades.
After the Hamas attack, Israel has responded aggressively and the war has continued so far, the Israelis being often criticized for their cruelty and accused of crimes against humanity. Globally, the conflict between Israel and Palestine became extremely debated and the supporters of both camps have organized numerous protests and actions that expressed their opinion.
