Madrid plans biggest security operation since NATO summit for Vuelta finale

There will be some 1,500 police and Guardia Civil officers deployed on the final two stages of the Vuelta a España this weekend amid ongoing demonstrations against the participation of Israel-Premier Tech in the race.

Human rights protests in solidarity with Palestine have been a daily occurrence on the Vuelta. Over 64,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza almost two years ago in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 1,200 people.

Stages 11 and 16 were shortened due to demonstrations that made the road impassable, while there were crashes on stage 10 and 15 after protestors attempted to infiltrate the course. On Wednesday morning, the Vuelta peloton voted to neutralise the day’s stage in the event of further disruption, though the stage ultimately followed its full course to the Alto de El Morredero.

The Vuelta organisation has denied a report by L’Équipe that the final stage of the race in Madrid would be suspended due to the security risk entailed. On Wednesday, Madrid’s local government announced what it termed an “extraordinary” increase in security for the final two stages of the Vuelta, which take place in and around the capital city.

Spanish news agency EFE has reported that some 400 Guardia Civil officers will be added to the usual deployment of 132 on the Vuelta for stage 20 to Bola del Mundo. On the final Sunday in Madrid, there will be 1,100 officers from Spain’s Policia Nacional, which will mark the biggest single security deployment in the Spanish capital since the 2022 NATO summit.

Madrid’s local government also insisted that the right to peaceful demonstration would be respected at the weekend, with delegate Francisco Martín highlighting the “international leadership that Spain is showing in condemning the genocide of the Palestinian people.” 

On Thursday, an additional 450 law enforcement officers – 300 from the Policia Nacional and 150 from the Guardia Civil – will be on duty along the course of the stage 18 time trial in Valladolid.

The city council has already announced that there will be additional barriers in the opening and closing kilometres of the stage, and Marca reports that the Vuelta organisation is considering extending that precaution to the entirety of the 27km course.

“Citizens have the right to the demonstration, but this must be balanced with safety and must not endanger the safety of the cyclists or those who attend,” Spain’s interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said, according to El País. “We hope that the calm, good work, and sensitivity of everyone will lead to a completely normal competition.”