Pro-Palestinian Protest cancels “Vuelta a España”
Madrid, Sep 14 (EFE) –
Pro-Palestinian protests in several streets in Madrid’s city center forced an abrupt end to the Vuelta a España about 56 kilometers (34 miles) from the finish line.
Despite the extensive police presence in the capital, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators managed to break through the security perimeter and occupy the road, cutting several sections of the route of the Tour in protest against the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team.
Although the police carried out charges against the demonstrators with the aim of clearing the cyclists’ route, a group managed to stop the peloton when it was 56 kilometers from the finish line.
The group resumed the march, but in light of news of intense clashes between protesters and police from the finish area and other central streets, the organizers decided to divert the race to the Royal Palace Gardens, where the cyclists took shelter.
Finally, after talks with the race director, the organizers decided to cancel the Vuelta’s final stage.
The cyclists waited for the police to escort them to their team vehicles and hotels.
Protests against the participation of the Israeli team in the Vuelta Ciclista a España have taken place all over the country, mostly after the competition had to be rerouted in Bilbao (north) in early September.
For the final stage in Madrid and under the slogan ‘Cycling without Zionism’, the Palestinian Committee of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement was encouraged to demonstrate against Israel at various points in the Spanish capital.
A police force of 1,100 agents had been deployed in the Spanish capital, the largest effort since the NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022. EFE
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