Race Halted With 56km Left Due to Protesters
Explosion at Madrid Cafe Reported the Day Before
A major pro-Palestinian protest in Madrid, the capital of Spain, led to the suspension of the Vuelta a Espana, one of the world's three major cycling races. On September 14 (local time), AFP and other foreign media reported that more than 100,000 protesters occupied the central course of the cycling race in Madrid, ultimately forcing the event to be halted.
The Vuelta a Espa?a, one of the world's three major cycling races, was suspended due to a large pro-Palestinian protest held in Madrid, the capital of Spain. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to AFP, some protesters broke through the barricades and entered the road, shouting "Boycott Israel." As a result, with 56 kilometers remaining to the finish line, the cyclists stopped racing, and the organizing committee officially called off the event. The police fired tear gas at the protesters but later permitted them to enter the road, and the race was immediately canceled. The protesters welcomed the decision, chanting, "Palestine has won."
Previously, several stages of this year’s Vuelta were shortened due to protests against the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team. Some athletes raised concerns about safety. Meanwhile, Spain's center-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the protest was "a source of pride." Several Spanish government officials also openly expressed their support for Palestine. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz said, "Israel cannot participate in any event as long as it continues its massacres," adding, "Spanish society has given a lesson to the world." Diaz was recently banned from entering Israel by the Israeli government. In contrast, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative opposition People's Party, strongly criticized the government, calling the incident "an international embarrassment broadcast to the world."
Some protesters broke down the barricades and entered the road shouting "Boycott Israel." The police fired tear gas at the protesters but later allowed them to enter the road, and the game was immediately canceled. AP Yonhap News
Meanwhile, on the previous day, September 13, an explosion occurred at a cafe in Vallecas, in the south-central part of Madrid, injuring 21 people. According to AFP and other foreign media, rescue teams reported that three of the 21 injured were in critical condition. The explosion took place at a cafe in Vallecas, south-central Madrid, but the cause of the blast has not yet been determined.
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