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Friday, September 5, 2025
Spanish foreign minister says Israeli cycling team should be expelled from Vuelta
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Spain’s foreign minister says that he would support the expulsion of Israel Premier Tech from the Spanish Vuelta cycling race after the team was targeted by a pro-Palestinian protest that disrupted the event.
José Manuel Albares said late on Thursday that he would “understand and be in favor” of the Israeli team being removed from the race, while adding that his government doesn’t claim to have the power to do so. He made the statement in response to a question by a journalist.
“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 says.
Wednesday’s protest in the northern city of Bilbao targeted the Israel Premier Tech team amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The protest produced chaotic scenes of a crowd pushing against temporary metal barriers along the final kilometers of the course with police and security personnel holding them back. Many protestors carried Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian signs.
Race officials called off the stage about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the end of the circular route out of and into Bilbao. There was no stage winner.
Immediately after the incident, Vuelta organizers issued a statement condemning the “events that took place” while also backing the right to peaceful protest.
“La Vuelta respects and defends the right to peaceful demonstration within the context of the event, but cannot tolerate any acts that put at risk the physical safety of the participants or any member of the race caravan,” the statement read.
Vuelta technical director Kiko Garcia, however, appeared to suggest that Israel Premier Tech should consider dropping out or for the UCI, cycling’s governing body, to intervene, because there was a risk of more protests if it kept racing.
“At some point someone will have to decide if we protect an international event like the Vuelta, or if we protect a team,” García said, adding that he hopes “the Israeli team realizes that by being here it doesn’t help the safety of everyone else.”
Israel Premier Tech, however, stated it was not pulling out.
“Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling — not only for Israel Premier Tech, but for all teams,” it said.
The Times of Israel Community.