The final stage of Vuelta a Espana ended early on Sunday as a result of pro-Palestinian protests at the event. Visma-Lease a Bike rider Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark ultimately won the race, which started in August.
Spanish authorities, according to The Associated Press, said more than 100,000 people participated in Sunday’s demonstration. Twenty two people were injured and two detained as well, authorities said.
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Other protests had occurred throughout the three-week-long Vuelta a Espana, in part due to Israeli-Premier Tech team’s participation. A protestor with a Palestinian flag attempted to run onto the road in front of riders at one stage, which caused two of them to crash. While they continued, the AP wrote, one later had to pull out of the race.
On Sunday, CNN reported, a group of protestors pushed over crowd barriers that were on the race route on Paseo del Prado in Madrid. Officers from Spain’s National Police used tear gas to clear the crowds that gathered near the finish line, CNN wrote.
Some protestors blocked the road, leading riders to stop, the AP wrote.
Organizers said the final stage “ended early to ensure the safety of the riders,” and they chose to cancel the podium ceremony as well. About 31 miles had been left in the race.
Still, Vingegaard was able to nab his third Grand Tour title, beating João Almeida with a lead of one minute and 16 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had praised the protestors, with CNN reporting that he called for “respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilizing for just causes like Palestine” at a Socialist party rally. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar took to X to criticize Sanchez for encouraging the protestors who he said “wrecked the ‘La Vuelta’ cycling race.”
Sanchez formally recognized a Palestinian state last year. Spain was also the first European country to request permission to join South Africa’s case in the International Court of Justice, in which the country says Israel is committing genocide.
More than 64,871 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, which started after Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Widespread famine has been confirmed in Gaza as well due to Israeli restrictions on aid.
Protests continued for the rest of the evening in Madrid, the AP wrote, noting most were peaceful.
