Protests by demonstrators supporting Palestine, who are demanding, among other things, that the Israel-Premier Tech team withdraw from the Grand Tour, have severely disrupted the final stages of the Vuelta.
Vuelta leader Jonas Vingegaard said it is difficult to predict what might happen in the coming days after pro-Palestine demonstrators caused the 11th stage to be halted three kilometers before the finish.
Vingegaard said he was not affected by the demonstrators during the entire 157.4 km stage, which passed around the Basque port city of Bilbao, praising the police for their efforts to control the more extreme participants in the roadside protests. However, the Dane was unhappy that the demonstrators targeted the cycling race, calling it the "wrong place to protest."
The last time a Vuelta stage was partially stopped was in 2023, when general classification times were fixed 9 km before the finish in Barcelona due to bad weather conditions. However, for the race not to reach the finish at all is a much rarer event – this happened, for example, in 1978 in San Sebastián, when the Vuelta's final stage had to be completely canceled due to political protests.
"This might be the last time we see a stage winner in this Vuelta," Vingegaard mused. "It's unpredictable what will happen in the coming days. I hope we can continue the race, because this is the wrong place to protest. What do they want from us cyclists? I can't do anything."
Proud of my town 💪💪
— Leire (@lerelelol)September 3, 2025
They say there was no winner in today's stage, Hahahaha, of the cycling tour#LaVuelta25in#Bilbao, Hahahaha... Palestine won ❤️❤️❤️pic.twitter.com/TInUJiJUBc
Today there was no winner in the Vuelta and the finish in Bilbao was suspended. This was achieved by Basque demonstrators protesting against Israel's genocide in solidarity with Palestine. The Basque people are extraordinary. Huge.pic.twitter.com/UbrxZI9IBz
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza)September 3, 2025
Today the cycling tour was interrupted as it passed through Bizkaia thanks to actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Enough of the Zionist state washing its hands by participating in sporting events while carrying out a Holocaust.
— Sindicato de Estudiantes 🇵🇸 (@SindicaEstudian)September 3, 2025
Palestine will win 🇵🇸pic.twitter.com/zUxcVsFuS6
