Spanish Vuelta disrupted again by anti-Israel protest on decisive stage

By Canadian Press on September 13, 2025.

BOLA DEL MUNDO, Spain (AP) — Several dozen people briefly disrupted the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday in yet another protest against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The three-week cycling race has been impacted by multiple gatherings of people protesting the presence of an Israeli-owned team.

Saturday’s protest occurred around 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) from the finish line when a crowd rushed onto the road and sat down. Some carried Palestinian flags.

A few people then tried to get in the path of cyclists who sped past, while police managed to keep them back. It took several minutes for all the cyclists and team vehicles to advance.

It was the sixth stage of the last 10 to have been disrupted by protests.

Saturday’s 20th stage is a 165-kilometer (102-mile) mountain stage ending atop the beyond-category Bola del Mundo ascent.

Jonas Vingegaard leads Joao Almeida by 44 seconds entering the stage, which will decide the title winner before Sunday’s mostly ceremonial arrival to Madrid. Race custom dictates that no rider will challenge the leader on the final stage.

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AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

The Associated Press