Anti-Israel protests at La Vuelta spark concerns over Tour de France start in Barcelona

The pro-Palestine protests during this year’s La Vuelta cycling race, which culminated in the cancellation of the final stage in Madrid after thousands gathered to oppose the participation of an Israeli team, have raised concerns about the potential impact on next year’s Tour de France Grand Départ, scheduled to start in Barcelona.

The first doubts emerged after the International Cycling Union (UCI), cycling’s global governing body, issued a statement expressing regret that Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez had shown support for La Vuelta protests.

Although the statement did not explicitly mention the Tour de France or its start in Barcelona, it cast doubt on Spain’s ability to host major international sporting events.

Responding to the concerns, Barcelona’s sports councilor David Escudé told local broadcaster Betevé that the opening stage in Barcelona, along with the following two stages in Catalonia, were not at risk.

"The Grand Départ will of course take place. We are in the final stage of preparation, and it will go down in history for its spectacularity," he said.

Escudé also questioned the UCI’s statement, arguing that "the Tour de France as an event is not for them to question, so they can cast doubt on whatever they like."

At the same time, he made clear that the city council is sensitive to the genocide of Palestinians and urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to exclude teams competing under the Israeli flag.

"In no case have we considered suppressing the Grand Départ, but rather that teams competing in any sport under the Israeli flag, just as happened with Russia, should no longer be allowed to do so," she added.

In a similar line, both the Spanish and Catalan governments, led by the Socialists, also weighed in.

Government spokesperson Pilar Alegría confirmed that the Tour would indeed start in Barcelona, while calling for Israel’s exclusion from international sports competitions.

"There is still a year for international federations to debate this question," she said.

Catalan government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque went further, refusing even to consider that the conflict might still be ongoing when the race is held in 2026.

"We don’t even want to imagine that in a year’s time this situation could still be happening," she said.

These reactions came a day after the left-wing Comuns, coalition partners of the ruling Socialists in Barcelona’s city council, urged mayor Jaume Collboni to cancel the Grand Départ if Israel is not expelled from competition.

"We cannot put sport at the service of whitewashing a genocide," said Janet Sanz, the party’s leader in the city council, calling for Israel’s team not to be allowed to "parade thousands of deaths through the streets of Barcelona."