Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt Israeli team at La Vuelta cycling race

The La Vuelta a España cycling race was disrupted for two consecutive days by pro-Palestine protesters as it passed through Catalonia.

On Wednesday, a group of five people blocked the road, waving Palestinian flags, while the Israel–Premier Tech team was competing in the time trial.

The incident was captured by live cameras broadcasting the race, which was passing through Figueres, Girona, in northern Catalonia.

The protest took place on a long, straight stretch of road with high visibility. Protesters waved a Palestinian flag and held a placard reading: "Neutrality is complicity. Boycott Israel."

Despite the disruption, the eight cyclists continued riding, as police motorbikes quickly intervened to break up the protest.

One of the protesters, a 42-year-old man, was arrested. He was accused of “creating a serious risk to traffic, resisting and disobeying authorities, and causing public disorder.” He was released shortly afterward.

The race director, Javier Guillén, said that the organizers would file a complaint with the police over the race interruption.

“This is violence,” he stated, adding, “This cannot be allowed as it jeopardizes the riders’ safety.”

The protest targeted the Israeli team, which is financed by a personal friend of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite calls to ban the team, Guillén ruled out expelling them, noting that their participation is based on "sporting merits."

After Wednesday’s protest, another demonstration took place on Thursday in Olot, as the race departed from the town.

This protest was not specifically aimed at the Israeli team but targeted the race as a whole. Protesters briefly blocked the cyclists at the start, though they were immediately removed by police.