The finish of the prestigious Vuelta a España cycling race was disrupted by massive protests against the participation of the Israeli team, Israel Premier Tech. More than 100,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Madrid, chanting anti-Israel slogans and waving Palestinian flags.

Protesters tore down barriers on Gran Vía Street and blocked the racecourse. Initially, police did not intervene, but they later dispersed the crowd using tear gas. Despite these efforts, the race had to be halted “for safety reasons,” with no finish line, no victory celebrations, and no award ceremony.

The Vuelta a España began three weeks ago and has been accompanied throughout by protests targeting Israel Premier Tech. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly praised the team for its resilience in facing almost daily attacks.