Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
People hold Palestinian flags as they try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
People holding Palestinian flags sit on the street after disrupting the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Spanish minister says Israeli cycling team should be expelled from Vuelta after protest
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 Spain鈥檚 foreign minister says that he would support the expulsion of Israel Premier Tech from the Spanish Vuelta cycling race after the team was targeted by a pro-Palestinian protest that disrupted the event.
Riders of the Israel Premier Tech team compete as people holding Palestinian flags try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 Spain鈥檚 foreign minister says that he would support the expulsion of Israel Premier Tech from the Spanish Vuelta cycling race after the team was targeted by a pro-Palestinian protest that disrupted the event.
Spain鈥檚 top diplomat Jos茅 Manuel Albares said late on Thursday that he would 鈥渦nderstand and be in favor鈥 of the Israeli team being removed from the race, while adding that his government doesn鈥檛 claim to have the power to do so. He made the statement in response to a question by a journalist on Spain鈥檚 national radio RNE.
鈥淲e have to send a message to Israel and the Israeli society that Europe and Israel can only have normal relations when human rights are respected,鈥 Albares said.
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The protest that stopped the race
Wednesday鈥檚 protest in the northern city of Bilbao targeted the Israel Premier Tech team while Israel continues that has killed tens of thousands of civilians in retaliation for the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
The protest produced chaotic scenes of a crowd pushing against temporary metal barriers along the final kilometres of the course with police and security personnel holding them back. Many protestors carried Palestine flags and pro-Palestine signs.
Race officials called off the stage about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from the end of the circular route out of and into Bilbao. There was no stage winner.
The team vows to keep racing.
Canadian-Israeli entrepreneur Sylvan Adams is one of Israel-Premier Tech鈥檚 owners, while former Canadian star rider Steve Bauer is the team鈥檚 sporting manager.
Immediately after the incident, Vuelta organizers issued a statement condemning the 鈥渆vents that took place” while also backing the right to peaceful protest.
鈥淟a Vuelta respects and defends the right to peaceful demonstration within the context of the event, but cannot tolerate any acts that put at risk the physical safety of the participants or any member of the race caravan,鈥 the statement read.
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Vuelta technical director Kiko Garcia, however, appeared to suggest that Israel Premier Tech should consider dropping out or for the UCI, cycling’s governing body, to intervene, because there was a risk of more protests if it kept racing.
鈥淎t some point someone will have to decide if we protect an international event like the Vuelta, or if we protect a team,鈥 Garc铆a said.
鈥淓veryone needs to try to find a solution, which for me right now is that the Israeli team realizes that by being here it doesn鈥檛 help the safety of everyone else. But we can鈥檛 make that decision, the team has to do it,” he said.
Israel Premier Tech, however, stated it was not pulling out.
鈥淎ny other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling 鈥 not only for Israel Premier Tech, but for all teams,鈥 it said.
Garc铆a also said that the Vuelta had told the UCI about the possibility of protests against Israel Premier Tech before the race began.
UCI condemned the incident, saying that 鈥渃ycling in particular, has a role to play in bringing people together and overcoming barriers between them, and should under no circumstances be used as a tool for punishment.鈥
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The UCI declined Friday to comment on the minister’s comments when asked by the Associated Press.
The Palestinian cause is backed by many Spaniards, including its left-wing government, which last year.
Another protest in a rural area
Thursday鈥檚 stage, held in a rural area, went as planned without any more protests. A small, peaceful pro-Palestinian protest was held before Friday鈥檚 13th stage that started in Cabez贸n de la Sal.
Former Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard leads the three-week race.
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