World cycling’s governing body has condemned the pro-Palestinian protests which rocked this year’s Vuelta a Espana and questioned the Spanish government’s ability to host major sporting events, in an explosive statement published the day after the race finished.
The year’s third and final grand tour, which concluded in Madrid on Sunday, was repeatedly affected by large pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The protests initially targeted Israel Premier-Tech, a team participating in the race which is owned by a Canadian-Israeli billionaire, before spilling over into wider protests at Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
