The final stages of the Vuelta have been severely disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters, who are demanding, among other things, that the Israel-Premier Tech team leave the Grand Tour.
Vuelta leader Jonas Vingegaard said it was difficult to predict what might happen in the coming days after pro-Palestinian protesters caused the 11th stage to be halted three kilometers before the finish.
Vingegaard said he was unaffected by the protesters throughout the 157.4km stage around the Basque port city of Bilbao, praising police for their efforts to keep the more extreme participants in the roadside protests under control. However, the Dane was unhappy that the demonstrators had chosen the cycling tour as their target, calling it "the wrong place to protest".
The last time a Vuelta stage was partially stopped was in 2023, when bad weather in Barcelona caused the general classification times to be set 9km before the finish. But it is a much rarer event for a race to not finish at all – this happened in San Sebastián in 1978, for example, when the final stage of the Vuelta had to be completely stopped due to political protests.
"This could be the last time we see a stage winner at this Vuelta," Vingegaard reasoned. "It's unpredictable what will happen in the next few days. I hope we can continue racing because this is the wrong place to protest. What do they want from us riders? I can't do anything."
Proud of my town 💪💪
— Leire (@lerelelol) September 3, 2025
Dicen que no ha habido ganador en la etapa de hoy, Jajajjajajaj , de la vuelta ciclista #LaVuelta25 en #Bilbao , Jajajjajajaj… ha ganado Palestina ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/TInUJiJUBc
Hoy no ha habido ganador en la Vuelta y han suspended la llegada a meta en Bilbao. Lo han consigido los demonstantes vascos que protestaban contra el genocidio de Israel en solidaridad con Palestina. El pueblo vasco es extraordinario. Enormous. pic.twitter.com/UbrxZI9IBz
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) September 3, 2025
Hoy la Vuelta ciclista ha quedado interruptida en su paso por Bizkaia gracias a las acciones de solidaridad con el pueblo palestino. Basta ya de que el Estado sionista se lave la cara participating in eventos deportivos mientras llevan a cabo un Holocausto.
— Sindicato de Estudiantes 🇵🇸 (@SindicaEstudian) September 3, 2025
Palestine will win 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/zUxcVsFuS6
