The UCI has said that the Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez’s support for the pro-Palestine protests at the Vuelta a España “calls into question Spain's ability to host major international sporting events”.
In a statement released last night, the UCI, cycling’s international governing body, added that Sánchez’s position on the protests is “contradictory to the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace”.
After continued protests against Israel–Premier Tech’s participation in La Vuelta, Sunday’s final stage was cut short due to pro-Palestine demonstrators flooding the finish line in Madrid. Race winner Jonas Vingegaard and the peloton were forced to turn back from the city centre with 55km of the stage remaining, and race organisers said there would be no podium ceremony.
There were reportedly 3,000 protestors at the finish in Madrid and an estimated 100,000 demonstrators continued to protest after the race had ended. Spanish authorities brought in extra police to Madrid, making it the largest security operation since the 2022 NATO summit in the city.
Speaking before the final stage, Sánchez said: “We would like to express our gratitude and absolute respect for the athletes but also our admiration for the Spanish people who mobilise for just causes, such as Palestine.”
His words were criticised by opponents, including Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, who said on X that the Spanish prime minister “encouraged demonstrators to take to the streets” and that the “pro-Palestinian mob heard the incitement messages”.
On Monday, a day after the protests, Sánchez said he had a “deep admiration” for those who protested peacefully against Israel–Premier Tech.
Sánchez also called for Israel to be barred from international sporting events for as long as its “barbarism” in Gaza continued. The Spanish prime minister also said he hoped the protests in Madrid would lead others to reconsider the country’s participation in sporting events.
“I think that debate that’s begun after what happened here in Madrid yesterday should widen and spread to all corners of the world,” Sánchez said.
“It’s already happening in some parts of the world and we’ve seen how European governments are saying that as long as the barbarism continues, Israel can’t use any international platform to whitewash its presence.
“And I think that sports organisations need to ask themselves whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep taking part in international competitions.”
Stephanie Adam, of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which called for the protests, told BikeRadar that the Israel–Premier Tech’s participation at the race was “sportswashing pure and simple”.
The UCI said it “strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government.”
“Sport must remain autonomous to fulfill its role as a tool for peace. It is unacceptable and counterproductive for our sport to be diverted from its universal mission,” the UCI added.
In a letter addressed to the UCI’s president David Lappartient, of the Consejo Superior de Deportes, the Spanish government’s autonomous agency for the promotion of sport, said: “In Spain, as in all democratic societies, the right to demonstrate freely and peacefully is a fundamental right, enshrined in our 1978 Constitution.”
“We believe that sport cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in the world, much less remain oblivious to serious human rights violations,” the letter continued.
“There is no peace without justice, and using sport to "whitewash" a genocide like the one being committed in Gaza, with thousands of deaths, innocent children, and a famine already declared by the United Nations, is a political position that contravenes the Olympic Charter and the most basic values of sport.”
Many riders voiced concern for their safety at La Vuelta and there were several crashes due to protests. Israel–Premier Tech began riding in jerseys without its team name, citing safety concerns.
As protests mounted at La Vuelta, the team, owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylan Adams, was endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu, who said: “Great job to Sylvan and Israel’s cycling team for not giving in to hatred and intimidation. You make Israel proud!”
The UCI will host its annual congress next week, which it says will be attended by representatives from Palestinian, Israeli, Russian and Ukrainian National Federations.
