From Sport to Standoff: Lessons from La Vuelta’s Political Turmoil

This week’s Member Insights by David Alexander, the founder and MD of Calacus PR explores how sport and politics once again became inseparable during La Vuelta a España 2025. The Grand Tour was marred by pro-Palestinian protests, disrupted stages, and fractured communication among stakeholders, raising serious questions about cycling’s ability to safeguard its riders, sponsors, and global reputation in an increasingly politicised landscape.

The debate about sport and politics becoming intertwined has gone on for decades.

Whether it’s Tommy Smith standing with his fist raised at the 1968 Olympic Games or subsequent Olympic boycotts; Colin Kaepernick taking the knee; or the lobbying of governments by those seeking to elect host cities and sports administrators, sport and politics are inter-connected.

Along with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta a Espana is one of the three men’s cycling Grand Tour events, and found itself mired in controversy after pro-Palestinian protests prematurely ended the race this autumn.

It became clear that communication between various stakeholders was not co-ordinated, the disagreements and varying agenda contributing to the chaos that transpired.

What makes cycling so appealing is the proximity of fans to riders against the backdrop of spectacular scenery and cities, but during La Vuelta it became a vulnerability that proved insurmountable in the face of political uproar.

There had been concerns about the inclusion of Israel-Premier Tech, given the tragic crisis in the Middle East, which has seen the Israeli military launching a campaign in Gaza which a United Nations Commission has deemed as genocide.

The actions in Gaza are Israel’s 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.

Tensions are rising between Spain and Israel with the Spanish Government approving a package of measures against Israel including banning two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from entering Spain, as well as imposing an arms embargo via a royal decree pending parliamentary approval. 

Spain is also one of the countries that formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2024, and it has regularly strongly condemned Israeli actions against Palestine. 

The Israel-Premier Tech team includes riders from around the world, only one of which is Israeli, but after protests at both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France this year, it was inevitable that La Vuelta would experience challenges of its own.

The team has witnessed mild protesters, waving Palestinian flags and booing since the Gaza war began more than two years ago, but this Vuelta was different.

With early stages taking place in Italy, the protests began in earnest during Stage Five, with police having to clear the road just outside Figueres as the Israeli team was targeted.

The team issued a statement that said: “Israel–Premier Tech respects the right of every individual to freedom of expression, including the right to demonstrate peacefully. But we strongly condemn the dangerous acts of protest…which not only endangered the safety of our riders and race staff but also the demonstrators themselves. We will continue to work with race organizers and authorities to ensure the safety of riders and staff in the Vuelta and all other races we participate in.”

As the protests continued, team owner Sylvan Adams, revealed that he had rejected a request from race organisers ASO to withdraw his team from the race or change its name.

The Canadian-Israeli billionaire said: “There is no end to the boycotts. They asked us to quit the Vuelta, but we did not surrender to the terrorists. I told them that they were wrong and that we had the right to stay. 

“If we give up, it’s not just the end of our team, but of all the other teams. Tomorrow they will demonstrate against the teams from Bahrain, the UAE, and Astana (Kazakhstan).”

Adams’ refusal gained support from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who wrote on social media: “Great job to Sylvan and Israel’s cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud!”

Calling all protestors “terrorists” was ill-advised by Adams, connecting Hamas, the Palestinian political and military entity with all those who called for an end to hostilities and the desperate situation facing the region’s inhabitants, particularly those reported to be starving in Gaza City.

Adams has previously said that the team is a form of “sports diplomacy….a worldwide advertising board to win hearts and minds to the Israeli cause.” 

He had also said that “This is not a state project…This isn’t a propaganda exercise. We are ambassadors of the country. Our brand is Israel. I do not believe in the ‘washing concept.

“It’s the politics that create obstacles. One of the things I like about the bike team is that we can compete in the spirit of good sportsmanship, and that’s the power of sport. These guys ride for Israel, so they need to know the country.”

There’s a lot of mixed messaging in what Adams says, underlining why protestors may have targeted the riders even if their outrage was heavy-handed and ultimately gained as much criticism as support.

Despite Adams’ earlier denials, the Israeli team eventually removed their name from their kit before the fourteenth stage of the race amid a continuation of the protests and pressure from race officials and the Spanish authorities.

The team statement said: “In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at @lavuelta

“Israel – Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race. The team name remains Israel – Premier Tech but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing.”

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, released a public statement condemning the violent protests but confirming that Israel-Premier Tech had a right to compete.

That viewpoint was contradicted by Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, who called on the race organisers to expel the Israeli team, further inflaming the issue.

“We 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,” Albares said. He added that sporting competitions could not simply continue “as if nothing were happening” while Gaza remained under attack.

Comments like that not only provide a headache for the organisers and Israeli team but for other teams and their riders who would get caught in the protests that had nothing to do with them.

The race had to be suspended in Bilbao, eight kilometres from the finish line, when angry mobs pushed against barriers and forced organisers to finish prematurely, 3km from the finish line.

The protests also had an impact in Galicia and on more than one stage in Asturias, where incidents caused Javi Romo (Movistar) to crash and abandon the race due to his injuries.

It was understandable that organisers did not want to let the protestors ruin the race completely, but pleas came primarily from riders, with Simone Petilli asking for protests to not get in the way of riders and put them at risk.

“I understand that is not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a protest on the road. Please, we are just Cyclists and we are doing our Job, but if it will continue like this our safety is not guaranteed anymore, and we feel in danger! We just want to Race! Please.”

Adam Hansen, the president of the riders’ union the CPA, expressed support for Petilli. “We remind everyone that cyclists are not involved in political or social disputes — they are simply doing their job: racing,” he wrote on X. “Their safety must never be put at risk. 

“While we respect the right to peaceful protest, actions that endanger athletes cannot be accepted. Rider safety must remain the highest priority. The CPA stands firmly with the riders: they just want to race in safe conditions.”

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who has supported Israel’s exclusion from major cultural events, had appeared to encourage the protests midway through the event when he commented: “Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defence of human rights.

“Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine.”

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar called Sanchez and his government a “disgrace” and said: “He encouraged protesters to take to the streets. The pro-Palestinian mob listened to the inciting messages and attacked La Vuelta. The sporting event that has always been a source of pride for Spain has been cancelled. Sánchez and his government: shame on Spain!”

Ultimately, the final stage of the grand tour and winners’ podium were suspended amid chaotic scenes as groups of pro-Palestine protesters swamped the finish line area and presentation podium in central Madrid.

On Madrid’s main thoroughfare, Gran Vía, thousands of demonstrators tore down barriers and occupied the course. Missiles were thrown, the police charged, and the atmosphere became increasingly threatening with chants calling for ‘Cycling without Zionism’ and a boycott of Israel as tensions escalated.

Madrid’s mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, said Sanchez’s comments were to blame for causing the abandonment. “[It is] violence that the prime minister is directly responsible for due to his statements…instigating the protests,” he said.

That meant that Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of the Vuelta, was unable to receive his prize at the official podium, a moment to cherish to add to his two Tour de France titles. The riders needed police escorts back to their hotels while Vingegaard called the experience “surreal.”

“It’s a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us. I’m really disappointed about that,” Vingegaard said. “I was looking forward to celebrating this overall win with my team and the fans. Everyone has the right to protest, but not in a way that influences or endangers our race.”

Javier Guillén, director of La Vuelta, tried to downplay the premature ending of the race, having previously denied that a cancellation was possible.

He said: “When you call for a boycott of the race, of course, it causes damage. We didn’t go to any war, and this should not be understood as triumphalism, but we have completed the race.

“This is the hardest Vuelta I have ever experienced. La Vuelta is a global event, and that is one of the reasons why we have seen what we saw. It’s fine for people to take advantage of the Vuelta to make their statement, but we also demand respect for the race.”

A global event such as La Vuelta has so many different stakeholders, from the governing body and organisers to teams and riders and regional and national politicians.

Rather than any sense of joined-up strategy and communications, factions seemed to pit themselves against each other, causing distractions and ultimately emboldening protestors to go beyond peaceful actions to the violence that erupted in Madrid.

Michal Kwiatkowski, a veteran rider for Ineos Grenadiers, was a rare example of a rider who posted his thoughts after racing the Vuelta.

“If the UCI and the responsible bodies couldn’t make the right decisions early enough, then long-term it’s very bad for cycling that the protesters managed to get what they wanted. You can’t just pretend nothing is happening.

“From now on, it’s clear for everyone that a cycling race can be used as an effective stage for protests and next time it will only get worse, because someone allowed it to happen and looked the other way. It’s a shame for the fans who came here to watch a great event. Personally, I would have preferred to know in advance that the race was cancelled rather than being led to believe everything was going to be fine.”

Guillen was critical of the lack of support from cycling’s governing body, the UCI and added: “La Vuelta has remained neutral. We told the UCI that there was a problem, there were conversations, but they said the team had to race, and the team didn’t decide to withdraw either. We did what we had to do. No federation has banned Israel from its competitions, nor has the European Union.” 

The UCI, meanwhile, questioned Spain’s ability to safely host major sporting events after Sanchez’s comments.

“This position is contradictory to the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace,” the UCI statement said. “The UCI strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government. Sport must remain autonomous to fulfil its role as a tool for peace. 

“We also regret the fact that the Spanish Prime Minister and his government have supported actions that could hinder the smooth running of a sporting competition and, in some cases, expressed their admiration for the demonstrators.

“It also calls into question Spain’s ability to host major international sporting events, ensuring that they take place in safe conditions and in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter.

“As we approach our annual Congress next week, which will be attended by representatives of the Palestinian, Israeli, Russian, and Ukrainian National Federations, we reaffirm our constant call for dialogue and peace. Sport must unite, never divide.”

ASO, the organisers of the event (and also the Tour de France), seemed to escape criticism with the UCI adding: “The race organizers reacted quickly and calmly, putting emergency measures in place to ensure the continuity of the event. They acted with exemplary professionalism, respecting the autonomy and independence of sport.

British rider Tom Pidcock, who finished third in this year’s Vuelta, expressed his fears for the safety of riders at future events.

He said: “I worry about my friends who ride for the Israel [Premier Tech] team. They’re not riding to support Israel, they’re riding because they got an opportunity to race bikes around the world – at the end of the day they’re just like [the rest] of us. 

“On one stage they (protestors) threw pins in the road, and a lot of riders punctured. But in general it never got to a point where I was seriously scared. I just don’t think people think about the consequences of what they’re doing. In the [time trial] I got hit in the face with a flag for example.”

For the Vuelta itself, the race has been catastrophic with increased policing cost, lost television audiences, disenchanted sponsors and stage-winning riders, including Kwiatkowski’s teammate Egan Bernal, being denied their moment of podium glory.

The failure to end the race has plunged World Tour racing into crisis, particularly with the Tour de France Grand Depart taking place in Barcelona in July next year.

Whether Israel-Premier Tech will be there with these major events at risk is yet to be determined, amid rumours that other riders and teams have been privately urging them to withdraw from races for the safety of the whole peloton.

The 2026 Vuelta is due to end in Gran Canaria, with its Council President Antonio Morales concerned about the Israeli team competing.

He said: “I have to say with absolute conviction that if Israel is a participant, Gran Canaria is not willing to whitewash genocide and Israel through sport or any other means.

“We will see what will happen in the coming months but certainly with Israel’s participation, Gran Canaria will not host La Vuelta a España.”

The big question for organisers and cycling’s governance is a challenging one: how can the different stakeholders come together to prevent one of its showcase events being ruined if these protests continue to go ahead?

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