The final stage of the Vuelta a Espana was suspended on Sunday after several large pro-Palestinian protests disrupted the premier cycling event in the Spanish capital Madrid, according to organizers.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the final distance of the race route on Paseo del Prado in the center of the city, after a group of demonstrators pushed over crowd barriers that had lined the road.
The disruption started around 6 p.m. local time on Sunday after the demonstrators gathered to protest against the Israel-Premier Tech team’s participation in the competition.
As witnessed by CNN, officers from Spain’s National Police attempted to disperse the crowds occupying the final mile of the race route that led up to the finish line but were unsuccessful.
Police deployed tear gas to try to clear people from the area, but several protesters clashed with police and formed barricades in the middle of the road, using the fences that had closed off the area as makeshift barriers.
Several previous stages of the race held before Sunday had been shortened or changed because of similar protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Sunday’s clashes came hours after Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he applauded the pro-Palestinian protesters who had disrupted the race.
“Today marks the end of the Vuelta,” Sanchez told a Socialist party rally in the southern city of Malaga on Sunday. “Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilizing for just causes like Palestine.”
The Vuelta competition is Spain’s top annual multi-stage professional road cycling race, composed of 21 stages that are completed in three weeks of competition.
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