BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 As an alderperson in northwestern Spain, Rosana Prieto tends to the running of her tiny village and is far removed from major cities, often rocked by protests over geopolitical issues. But with one of the world’s biggest cycling races coursing through the bucolic hills nearby, she and hundreds of like-minded townspeople sensed a chance to make their small voices heard, denouncing Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza.
Palestinian flags in hand, they stood precisely where they knew the television cameras would broadcast their message to the world: the last turn before the finish line of the 15th stage, as cyclists of the Spanish Vuelta whirred past. Further up the road, a protester carrying a Palestinian flag got too close to the speeding peloton and caused a pair of cyclists to crash.
Protests targeting an Israeli-owned team have , Spain’s version of the Tour de France, in which over 180 cyclists pedal 3,100 kilometers (1,900 miles) through rural 厂辫补颈苍鈥檚 sleepy back-roads. Five of the last 10 days of racing have been either cut short or interrupted, with over 20 people detained by police.
Israel鈥檚 23-month military grind into Palestinian territory, launched in response to Hamas鈥 Oct. 7, 2023, deadly attack on Israel, had already enraged many Spaniards, including its outspoken left-wing government. The protests on the sidelines of the Vuelta have earned the government’s tacit endorsement and catalyzed nudging it toward staking out one of the strongest positions against Israel of any European nation since the sustained military operation began.
鈥淭he protests were born from the idea that our only chance to defend human rights regarding Israel is the Spanish Vuelta,鈥 Prieto, 48, told The Associated Press by phone. 鈥淚t is an international spotlight for us to say that we are against what Israel is doing.鈥
Israel has defended its military actions in Gaza and of standing with Hamas.
The war has so far killed at least 64,803 people in the Gaza Strip, according to the territory鈥檚 health ministry, .
Spain pressures for Israeli team’s exclusion
Spanish Prime Minister joined Ireland and Norway last year, and Spain became the first European country to ask a U.N. court for permission to join accusing Israel of genocide.
The Vuelta protesters argue that if from international sporting events for the war in Ukraine, then Israeli teams should likewise be punished.
厂辫补颈苍鈥檚 .
Foreign Minister Jos茅 Manuel Albares said he would support the Israeli-owned team’s expulsion from the race, while government spokesperson Pilar Alegr铆a, who is also minister of sports and education, said neutrality is no longer possible in the face of the death and destruction in Gaza.
鈥淲hat we are seeing at the protests, in my opinion, is logical,鈥 Alegr铆a told Cadena Ser radio on Sept. 11. 鈥淪ports cannot be isolated from the world that surrounds them.鈥
Protesters push race to the limit
For the Vuelta鈥檚 security detail, it was logistically impossible to lock down the entire route through its twisting roads, much of which is lined by forest. Large groups have gathered in towns and protesters have jumped out of cover to block the path of riders, causing two athletes to crash, although it’s unclear if that was the protesters’ intention. Neither of the riders who crashed was on the Israeli team. The cyclists participating in the race voted Wednesday that they would quit .
The team under fire, Israel Premier Tech 鈥 which only has one Israeli rider at the Vuelta 鈥 issued a statement saying that quitting the race is out of the question, as it would 鈥渟et a dangerous precedent.鈥
But Israel Premier Tech has been endeavoring to keep a low profile. Riders have avoided speaking to the media and it took the step midrace of .
The team is owned by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, who emigrated to Israel in 2016, and has played a key role in promoting Israel via sports. He helped arrange Israel鈥檚 hosting of the start of Giro d鈥橧talia, cycling鈥檚 third Grand Tour race, in 2018.
鈥淕reat job to Sylvan and Israel鈥檚 cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation,” Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted to social media platform X on Sept. 5. “You make Israel proud!鈥
鈥楢 little scared鈥
There have been occasional confrontations between police, security personnel, and protesters. Prieto said that she needed medical treatment for abrasions and knocks after a police officer dragged her across the ground. She said she and her cohorts behaved peacefully, and is waiting to see whether she faces charges.
Cycling teams have decried some protester actions. Joxean Fern谩ndez Matxin, the team boss of UAE Emirates, said that some of them hit riders with flag poles and tossed tacks in their path.
鈥淓veryone has a right to protest, but it鈥檚 a shame that it has to happen here and in this way and that we can鈥檛 finish the race,鈥 race leader Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, said after Wednesday鈥檚 stage finish was shortened.
Reigning Tour champion Tadej Poga膷ar skipped the Vuelta. Yet cycling鈥檚 biggest star was worried that the protests could spread to other races.
鈥淚 think all the riders are a little scared of what could happen,鈥 Poga膷ar told reporters in Quebec Thursday. 鈥淲hen we see what鈥檚 going on at the Vuelta, we talk about it and we think it could happen here or in other races between now and the end of the season.鈥
The next day, a few dozen protesters gathered in the Canadian city of Quebec during a one-day race Poga膷ar participated in.
Diplomatic spat intensifies
As the protests disrupted the Vuelta, a fleet of activists’ ships loaded with humanitarian aid , aiming to break Israel鈥檚 naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Spain’s prime minister chose this week to denounce Israel’s operations in Gaza as 鈥済enocide鈥 and make a nationally televised address and blocking Israel-bound fuel deliveries from passing through Spanish ports.
The move inflamed a that resulted in the ban of ministers from both countries. Israeli leaders called the Spanish government鈥檚 actions 鈥渁ntisemitic” and a 鈥渂latant genocidal threat.鈥
If the protests gain strength, they could become a concern for Israel, which has long prided itself on its close relations with the European Union. The European Commission鈥檚 president this week called for suspending trade ties with Israel, and the the popular Eurovision song contest next year if Israel is allowed to participate.
For analyst Oriol Bartomeus, professor of political science at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, S谩nchez’s long campaign against Israel’s incursion in Gaza is both benefiting from and fueling the grassroots protest movement at the cycling race.
鈥淲hat is happening at the Vuelta is a symptom of the anger of the left over this issue,鈥 Bartomeus told the AP. 鈥淭his is poised to be a major point of cohesion of Spanish society. S谩nchez is not stupid, and he has gotten right in there.”
Protesters aim to take action again on Sunday, when the race concludes in Madrid. Authorities will deploy 1,500 police for the final stage, adding to the 130 officers already traveling with the race.
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