The Vuelta a Espana, the third and final three-week Grand Tour of the year, is currently taking place in Spain – but will it make it to Sunday’s finish line in Madrid?
Pro-Palestinian protestors have disrupted the race on several occasions and with riders saying they are worried for their safety, there have been suggestions the competitors might quit the Vuelta before the final stage.
Asked whether the race should be ended early, the Vuelta organisers – who have had to shorten a number of stages – insisted there is “no Plan B” and that the race will continue until it reaches its conclusion in the Spanish capital.
“We are going to continue with La Vuelta,” said race director Javier Guillen, who added that the disruptions were “illegal”.
However, Thursday’s time trial was reduced from 27.2km to 12.2km to ensure “greater protection” for the riders.
The focus of the protests has been Israel-Premier Tech, the sponsors of a team which includes several British riders. The team changed to a kit that does not feature the team name midway through the race.
The protests come in the wake of the Israeli military launching a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 64,605 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since then, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Ending a Grand Tour early would be unprecedented. With just four stages remaining – including a huge, mountainous challenge on the penultimate day – the outcome of the race is still undecided.
