Disruptions Lead to Abandonment of Vuelta a España Stage Without Declaring a Champion

Vuelta a España Stage 11 Neutralized Due to Protests

The ongoing Vuelta a España has taken an unexpected turn as stage 11 was neutralized due to disruptions caused by pro-Palestine protesters at the finish line.

The decision to neutralize the stage was announced via race radio by Vuelta organizers, and the riders did not go through the finish to end the stage. Instead, GC times will be taken at 3km from the finish line in Bilbao.

The protests, which began during the start of the stage, affected the peloton, with the riders stopping in the neutral zone as police moved protesters out of the road. Television pictures showed multiple police officers standing in the road near the finish line facing a group of protesters holding Palestine flags.

Elia Viviani (Lotto), the CPA rider representative, stated that the race will continue as normal if protests remain peaceful. However, the specific representative from the riders' union CPA who spoke about the handling of the protests during the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España has not been named in the provided sources.

Despite the disruptions, points for the mountain classification and intermediate sprint will be given, but not on the finish line. No winner will be declared at the end of stage 11.

At the time of writing, a select group of 13 GC riders, including Jonas Vingegaard, were leading the race up the final climb of the Alto de Pike towards Bilbao.

As the Grand Tour continues, Cyclingnews' team of journalists will provide breaking news, analysis, and more from every stage of the Vuelta a España. Subscription to Cyclingnews provides unlimited access to 2025 Vuelta a Espana coverage.

It is important to note that Simone Petilli (Intermarche-Wanty) crashed during stage 10 of the Vuelta a España due to the protests, adding to the concerns about safety during the race. Riders have met with organizers and the UCI to discuss these ongoing safety concerns.

The Vuelta a España is one of the three Grand Tours in professional cycling, alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. The race, which began on August 14th and is scheduled to end on September 12th, covers a total distance of approximately 3,329 kilometres (2,068 miles).

Disruptions Lead to Abandonment of Vuelta a España Stage Without Declaring a Champion