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Stephen Farrand

'The UCI sets the rules' - Vuelta a España organiser describe protests as 'unacceptable' but insists they could not expel the Israel-Premier Tech team

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: A general view of Ivo Oliveira of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Red Leader Jersey and the peloton is at a standstill due to the pro-Palestinian protests in the city of Madrid during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 21 a 108km stage from Alalpardo to Madrid / #UCIWT / on September 14, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

The director of the Vuelta a España Javier Guillén has insisted the Spanish Grand Tour did everything they could to ensure the race finished in Madrid, under obligations from police and Spanish government officials and the UCI, who insisted the Israel-Premier Tech team could stay in the race despite the growing Pro-Palestinian protests.

The last stage of the Vuelta a España ended early after a huge number of pro-Palestine protesters took to the stress, with some invading the road and even throwing barriers at police. Others tried to stop the riders as they neared the city centre finishing circuit. With no hope of controlling the crowds, Spanish police stopped the race when the riders were about to enter the circuit.

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