Waves of pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded central Madrid on Sunday during the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana, bringing weeks of unrest to a dramatic climax amid smoke and tear gas. The protest centred around opposition to the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, which has drawn sustained criticism over the ongoing war in Gaza.
Chanting pro-Gaza slogans and waving Palestinian flags, protesters tore down barriers along the Gran Via, one of Madrid’s main commercial thoroughfares, and entered the race route ahead of the riders’ arrival. The stage was ultimately cancelled before the cyclists reached the scene, prompting celebrations among the demonstrators who shouted, “Palestine wins this Vuelta,” and held placards reading, “Boycott Israel,” “It’s not a war, it’s a genocide,” and “No more deaths of innocent children.”
“It’s a way of making visible internationally that we are against the genocide in Gaza,” said Rosa Mostaza Rodriguez, a 54-year-old teacher who joined the demonstration.
Spanish authorities had anticipated disturbances and deployed 1,100 police officers in what was described as Madrid’s largest security operation since the 2022 NATO summit. Despite the increased presence, law enforcement struggled to prevent repeated breaches along the racecourse, which had been set to pass several major landmarks including the Prado museum and Cibeles Square.
Police responded with charges and fired tear gas to clear the route, while confrontations broke out between demonstrators and officers. Journalists at the scene reported tense stand-offs, with many protesters wearing keffiyehs and shouting slogans in front of the police lines.
Smaller pro-Israel counter-protests also emerged. A group of demonstrators with Israeli flags gathered near Cibeles Square but were quickly escorted away by police amid cries of “murderers” from nearby pro-Palestinian activists.
The protests, which had disrupted several stages of the Vuelta over the past three weeks, raised safety concerns for riders and prompted changes to race routes. Demonstrators had previously burst onto the course, leading to crashes and heightened security fears.
Oskar Villamizar Dussan, a 53-year-old gardener from Colombia who had come to watch the race, said he sympathised with the protest. “I am not against it, they are right, this world is a little bit crazy,” he told AFP.
