Spains PM praises pro-Palestinian protesters as Vuelta race nears end

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FILE PHOTO: Cycling - Vuelta a Espana - Stage 13 - Cabezon de la Sal to Langliru - Cantabria, Spain - September 5, 2025 Riders pass protesters with Palestine flags during stage 13 REUTERS/Pankra Nieto/File Photo

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday he admired the pro-Palestinian protesters whose demonstrations along the route of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race led some riders to threaten to quit the competition last week.

With large demonstrations planned, more than 1,000 police officers were deployed on Sunday as cyclists reached the final stage of the 21-day race in the capital, Madrid.

The protests, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over Israels actions in Gaza, have disrupted several stages of the race, which is due to end at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Today marks the end of the Vuelta, Sanchez told a Socialist party rally in the southern city of Malaga. Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine.

Spain, which recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024, has been a vocal critic of Israels military campaign in Gaza and Sanchezs government announced new measures targeting Israeli military supplies earlier this month.

Protesters briefly breached security on Saturday and staged a sit-in to block the road during the penultimate stage in the Guadarrama mountains outside Madrid, but cyclists swerved round them.

Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative opposition Peoples Party,