Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Vuelta bicycle race in Spain (Screenshot/YouTube)
Prime Minister Sánchez said he was “proud” of demonstrators who disrupted the Vuelta bicycle race, preventing the podium ceremony from taking place.
By World Israel News Staff
The final leg of Spain’s prestigious Vuelta cycling race was canceled Sunday after anti-Israel protesters stormed the course in central Madrid. The disruption drew praise from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Vuelta, one of the sport’s most respected competitions, has been repeatedly disrupted this year by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Protesters flooded the course, causing riders to crash, and at times blocked the route, forcing organizers and police to cancel entire portions of the race.
On Sunday, despite the deployment of some 1,500 police officers to secure the finish line, organizers were forced to halt the final stage after protesters mobbed the end of the course in central Madrid. Police estimated that around 100,000 people took part in the demonstration, which ultimately prevented the podium ceremony from taking place.
When news of the cancellation spread, demonstrators were heard chanting, “Palestine won the Vuelta.”
Speaking at a conference later that day, Sánchez said the disruption filled him with “pride,” praising Spaniards for their advocacy.
He claimed the protests showed how “Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defense of human rights.”
Tensions between Spain and Israel have rapidly deteriorated in recent weeks. Sánchez accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and appeared to suggest that nuclear weapons could be used to halt Jerusalem’s military campaign in Gaza, a statement that drew a furious response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hostility against Israel was widespread throughout the competition.
The Israeli team was pressured to remove the word “Israel” from its uniforms during the race, citing safety issues.
Despite the protests, Matthew Riccitello, a 23-year-old rider for the Israeli team, was named the race’s Best Young Rider on Saturday, earning him a coveted white jersey.
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