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Cycling professional Romo encounters another protest during Vuelta competition

Palestinian protests during the Vuelta Spain persist indefinitely, as accident occurs in the 15th stage.

, and Administrator

2025 September 15 . 6:54 PM

2 min read

Cycling professional Romo confronted by demonstrators during Vuelta rally

Cycling professional Romo encounters another protest during Vuelta competition

The Vuelta, Spain's prestigious cycling race, has been embroiled in controversy and political tension this year, with several stages disrupted by pro-Palestine protests.

The 11th stage of the race was halted three kilometers from the finish line, following an incident involving a protester waving a Palestinian flag. The demonstrator's actions caused a commotion that led to Javier Romo, a cyclist, falling from his bike. Another cyclist also fell over in the chaos.

This was not the first time the Israeli team, the Israel-Premier Tech, had faced disruption. Protesters had previously disrupted the team during the team time trial on the fifth stage. As a result, the team has been under police protection and has been traveling without the "Israel" logo on its jerseys since Saturday.

The Israeli team's participation in the Vuelta has been controversial, with some calling for their exclusion. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has been a vocal advocate for this, hoping to send a message about the ongoing Gaza war.

Despite the protests, the finish area remained peaceful. The political debate in Spain has been intensified by these incidents, with opinions divided on the appropriate response to the protests.

Meanwhile, on the race front, Jonas Vingegaard maintained a 48-second lead over Joao Almeida before the second rest day. The 15th stage was won by Mads Pedersen in a sprint, with Orluis Aular finishing second. The stage ended after 167.8 kilometers.

The Vuelta has also served as a platform for political statements regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The race has been affected by numerous protest actions, particularly against the Israel-Premier Tech team.

The organisers have not yet declared a winner for the 11th stage, as the race was halted before its conclusion. The Vuelta continues to face challenges both on and off the race track.