Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the 20th stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday, protesting both the war in Gaza and the participation of the Israeli cycling team Israel-Premier Tech.
The penultimate stage of the Grand Tour spanned 165 kilometers (100 miles) of mountainous terrain. At kilometer 127, several dozen protesters blocked part of the route, prompting police and race officials to reroute the peloton through a bypass around the town. Riders returned to the original course by kilometer 134.
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Riders in the Vuelta a España as pro-Palestinian protest unfolds in the background
(Photo: REUTERS/Ana Beltran)
Despite the disruption, Israel-Premier Tech celebrated a historic achievement. Rider Matthew Riccitello secured fifth place overall and clinched the white jersey awarded to the race’s best young rider under 26. It marked the first time the Israeli team has won one of cycling’s key classification jerseys in a Grand Tour.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard extended his lead over Portugal’s João Almeida to one minute and 16 seconds, effectively securing overall victory in the Vuelta. Britain’s Tom Pidcock held onto third place, strengthening his chances of finishing on the podium.