Vuelta a España will continue to Madrid despite protests, insists director

Vuelta a España director Javier Guillén has insisted that the race will continue until Madrid despite the human rights protests that have caused two stages to be halted prematurely.

After a pro-Palestine demonstration in Bilbao saw stage 11 neutralised with 3km to go, the Vuelta organisation was compelled to bring stage 16 to an end with 8km remaining due to a protest on the final climb to Castro de Herville.

“The main message that I want to give you today is that we are going to continue doing the Vuelta and tomorrow we are going to start the stage,” Guillén told reporters after the stage.

“It’s obvious that it’s a very intense Vuelta and that it’s generated an extraordinary debate, a debate that you have all witnessed and which we never wanted to be a part of.”

Israel-Premier Tech’s participation in the race has been the focus of protests throughout the Vuelta due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. 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 700 people.

Activists briefly blocked the squad during the team time trial in Figueres on stage 5 and at least two crashes have occurred during the race after demonstrators attempted to step into the road.

Further protests are expected in the days ahead. There will be a heightened security presence for the stage 18 time trial in Valladolid, with some 450 police officers deployed along the course, while the Vuelta organisation has already denied a L’Équipe report that the final stage in Madrid would be suspended due to security concerns.

On Tuesday evening, Guillén denied that the Vuelta had a contingency plan in case the ongoing demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine prevented the race from reaching Madrid.

“What we want is to work towards getting to Madrid,” Guillén said. “There is no plan B to get to Madrid or to replace the Madrid stage. Under no circumstances.”

During his press conference, Guillén called on protestors to stop blocking the route of the Vuelta. 

“We all want peace in Gaza, but the Vuelta is not the place to settle that debate. We defend our sport and our race. We ask for respect for the riders and the public. All we want is to be allowed to race,” he said. “Stages cannot be cut short; cyclists cannot be blocked. It’s illegal, both because it's defined in the penal code and in sports law.”

Guillén also reiterated that excluding Israel-Premier Tech from the race is not in the gift of the race organisation. srael-Premier Tech qualify for the Vuelta as a WorldTour team, and the UCI has not taken any action against their participation in international cycling. In a statement last week, the UCI claimed it was following the “principles of the Olympic Movement” with its “commitment to political neutrality.” 

Vuelta technical director Kiko García suggested last week that Israel-Premier Tech could ensure the safety of the peloton by withdrawing from the race, but the team has declined to do so.

“I think it’s too late,” Guillén said on Tuesday. “The UCI has issued a statement explaining its position. The team continues to issue statements explaining its position, and from now on, what we want is for the race to continue. 

“These are the rules of the game that we have. I understand that there are people who disagree, but we all have to abide by the rules.”