• Pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid forced the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the protests but faced criticism from various political factions.
• Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard was declared the winner despite not finishing the final stage due to the protests.
• Over 100,000 attendees were reported at the protests, which targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team.
• Police reported 22 injuries and made two arrests during clashes with demonstrators.

Pro-Palestinian protests significantly disrupted the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race on September 14, 2025, leading to its cancellation. Protesters blocked key routes in Madrid, with reports indicating that over 100,000 people participated in the demonstrations, targeting the Israel-Premier Tech team, which had prompted chaos throughout the event, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

During the final stage, which was meant to conclude with a ceremonial sprint in the capital, demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in 22 officers injured and two arrests. The protests escalated to a point where cyclists were halted nearly 57 kilometers from the finish line, leading race organizers to declare the event officially abandoned, as reported by AA and Reuters.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed admiration for the demonstrators' cause at a Socialist Party rally, stating, "Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilizing for just causes like Palestine." This stance drew criticism from the opposition, who labeled it as detrimental to sports and national pride, according to India Times and Reuters.

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard was ultimately declared the champion of the Vuelta a Espana, marking his third Grand Tour victory despite never officially finishing the final stage. The chaos during the event led to multiple disruptions, with protests having marred several previous stages of the race, as detailed by BBC and TRT Global.

The event's organizers condemned the incidents, describing them as "unacceptable" and reiterated their commitment to trying to mitigate the impact of such protests. However, they acknowledged that the safety of the participants must come first, based on statements gathered from CBS News and AA.