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More than 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the final stage of Spain's premier cycling race on Sunday, forcing organizers to abandon the concluding day of the Vuelta a Espana in Madrid, Spanish authorities said.
The massive protest brought an abrupt end to the three-week grand tour, with Jonas Vingegaard officially crowned champion despite the cancellation of the traditional ceremonial finale. The Danish cyclist, riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, had secured his victory Saturday with a commanding performance on the Bola del Mundo mountain stage.
"There were more than 100,000 attendees," a spokeswoman for the central government's representation in the Madrid region told AFP. Two people were arrested during the demonstration, which centered around Gran Via in Madrid's city center where cyclists were scheduled to complete several loops.
Protesters knocked down barriers and flooded the race route approximately 56 kilometers from the planned finish line. Some demonstrators chanted calls for an Israeli boycott while green and red smoke filled the air around the blocked course.
The disruption marked the culmination of ongoing protests throughout the race targeting the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech professional cycling team. Various stages had been shortened or altered due to similar demonstrations opposing Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
"It's a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us," said Vingegaard, who entered Sunday's stage holding a 1 minute, 16 second lead over second-place finisher João Almeida of Portugal. "I was looking forward to celebrating this overall win with my team and the fans. Everyone has the right to protest, but not in a way that influences or endangers our race."
Near Madrid's Atocha train station, police initially charged demonstrators and deployed tear gas before allowing protesters to occupy the roadway. The decision to abandon the race was celebrated by demonstrators, who chanted that "Palestine won this Vuelta."
The protests received backing from Spain's government, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressing "pride" in the demonstrations before Sunday's racing began. Spain has emerged as one of Europe's most vocal supporters of Palestinian causes since Israel's military response to the October 2023 Hamas attack.
"Spanish society has given a lesson to the world (by) paralysing the Vuelta," said Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, a member of Spain's far-left coalition partner. Díaz added that Israel "cannot compete in any event while it continues to commit a genocide." The Israeli government recently barred her from entry over her criticism of the Gaza conflict.
Conservative opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the Popular Party condemned the government's stance, calling the disrupted race an "international embarrassment televised worldwide."
Protesters voiced familiar refrains heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations worldwide. "It's not a war, it's a genocide," and "no more killing innocent children," demonstrators chanted as they occupied the race route.
"Why does Israel have impunity?" asked José Luis Fernández, a 74-year-old retired university professor among the protesters. "The majority of the Spanish people do not accept what is happening in Gaza... look, there are people of all ages, very young, very old, this is a popular sentiment in Spain."
The conflict that sparked the protests began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 cross-border attack that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. Israel's subsequent bombardment has killed at least 64,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health ministry figures that the United Nations considers reliable.
Organizers announced there would be no podium presentation to celebrate the race winners following the disruption. Behind Vingegaard, Portugal's Almeida finished second while Britain's Tom Pidcock claimed third place, marking career-best grand tour results for both riders.
The Vuelta a Espana represents one of cycling's three grand tours alongside the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, typically concluding with a ceremonial stage through Madrid's historic center before thousands of spectators.
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