Protesters supporting Palestine disrupted the Vuelta a Espana race, leading to a crash, and the riders are expressing their dissatisfaction
In the ongoing Vuelta a España, pro-Palestinian protests have caused disruptions, with at least one rider, Simone Petilli, crashing as a result. The incident occurred during stage 10, as a large group of supporters with flags stepped into the road as the peloton approached.
Concerns have been raised that protests may continue on stage 11, as the race visits Bilbao, a city known for its strong support for Palestine. The Vuelta a España organizers have asked protesters to protest in a safe manner, and police officers attempted to tackle the protesters out of the way to protect the cycling race and the riders' safety.
Simone Petilli pleaded for protests not to endanger the riders following the incident on Wednesday morning. Other riders had to swerve or slow due to the protesters on stage 10. The race has not commented on whether arrests were made on Tuesday.
The Vuelta, and cycling as a whole, has been a target of pro-Palestinian demonstrations due to the participation of ProTeam Israel-Premier Tech. This is the second incident of protesters directly disrupting the Vuelta, after protesters entered the road in front of Israel-Premier Tech during the team time trial.
Palestinian flags were also present throughout the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, with disruptive protests attempted at both. However, no sanctions have been made against Israel in the cycling world.
It is important to note that Israel is currently engaged in armed conflict with Palestine. The United Nations has called for a ceasefire amidst growing concerns over famine in Gaza.
Our team of journalists from Cyclingnews are on the ground from the Italian Gran Partida through to Madrid, bringing breaking news, analysis, and more from every stage of the Grand Tour as it happens. For unlimited access to our coverage of the 2025 Vuelta a España, subscribe to Cyclingnews today.
