A pro-Palestinian protester briefly disrupted the conclusion of Stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, storming the race route just a few dozen feet from the finish line while wearing a shirt that read “Israel out of the Tour” and waving a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.
The incident occurred during a tense final sprint between Norwegian rider Jonas Abrahamsen and Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid. Abrahamsen, riding for Uno-X Mobility, clinched a dramatic win, narrowly edging out Schmid of Team Jayco AlUla by half a wheel. Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel came in third, seven seconds behind.
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A security officer rushes to intercept a pro-Palestinian protester who stormed the course near the finish line of Stage 11 of the Tour de France in Toulouse, France, Wednesday, July 17, 2025. The demonstrator, wearing a shirt reading 'Israel out of the Tour,' disrupted the final sprint between Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen, center, and Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid, right, before being subdued
(Photo: Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
Security personnel quickly intervened, tackling the protester before he could interfere with the riders, and escorted him off the course. The Tour’s organizers have not yet issued an official statement, but the disruption is being treated as highly unusual given the race’s strict security measures, especially near the finish line.
The protest appeared to target the participation of the Israel–Premier Tech team, despite the absence of any Israeli riders in this year’s Tour. The team, registered in Israel, includes international cyclists and has been part of the race since 2020.
Stage 11 spanned 97.5 miles through the hilly region surrounding Toulouse, featuring multiple breakaway attempts. Abrahamsen was part of an early breakaway group and proved strongest in the final stretch, securing his first career stage win in the Tour.
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For Abrahamsen, who had twice finished on the podium in prior Tour stages, this marked a career milestone. “It’s amazing, a dream come true. I’ve waited for this moment my entire life,” he said after the win.
But the day’s true drama unfolded roughly 2.5 miles before the finish. Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, one of the race’s top contenders, lost control on a turn, crashed into the curb, and sustained injuries to his hip and elbow. Despite the pain, he remounted and finished the stage. His main rivals chose not to capitalize on his fall, showing a rare moment of sportsmanship by refraining from attacking.
Pogačar crossed the line alongside his chief rival, Jonas Vingegaard, finishing 3 minutes and 28 seconds behind Abrahamsen. Attention now turns to whether his injuries will hamper his performance in the grueling mountain stages of the Pyrenees later this week.
The top of the general classification remains unchanged. Ireland’s Ben Healy, one of the Tour’s most surprising standouts thus far, retains the yellow jersey with a 29-second lead over Pogačar. Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel is third, trailing by 1 minute and 29 seconds, with Vingegaard just behind.
“Israel–Premier Tech respects every individual’s right to freedom of expression, including the right to protest," the Israeli cycling team said in a statement. "However, the team unequivocally condemns any act that disrupts the Tour de France and endangers the safety of the peloton—as was the case in Stage 11. We are grateful to ASO [the race’s organizing body] for their prompt response, which ensured the riders’ safety and allowed the race to proceed uninterrupted.
“Our focus remains on the competition itself, and we continue to work closely with race organizers and all relevant authorities to ensure that no protest compromises the safety of our team, impedes the race or jeopardizes our rightful participation.
“The security arrangements provided to our team during the Tour are determined by ASO and French law enforcement. We fully cooperate with all established protocols and deeply appreciate the efforts of every stakeholder involved in safeguarding our riders throughout the race.”