The Vuelta overtaken by the war in Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

For just over two weeks, the Vuelta a España has been progressing to the rhythm of breakaways, but also of clashes. Having set off from Turin (Italy) on August 23, the 80th edition of the Vuelta a España cycling race has found itself drawn, despite itself, into the turbulence of the war in Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Blockades, intrusions, stage interruptions: demonstrations are multiplying to denounce the humanitarian situation in Gaza and contest the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team in the peloton.

On Tuesday, September 9, the 16th stage had to be stopped prematurely 8 kilometers from the finish line, as protesters blocked the road. The organizers decided to freeze the times and validate the classification at this precise point on the route. Colombian Egan Bernal was the first to cross this improvised finish line.

The episode was not unprecedented. On September 3, in Bilbao, the 11th stage had already been stopped before its completion. Several dozen protesters had gathered near the finish line and some had tried to force the barriers despite a reinforced police presence. The race management had chosen to neutralize the event and stop the timing 3 kilometers before the finish.

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