Palestinian flags outnumber riders in la Vuelta
“Everything in this world can be robbed and stolen, except one thing; this one thing is the love that emanates from a human being towards a solid commitment to a conviction or cause.”― Ghassan Kanafani, co-founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, assassinated by Israel in 1972.
Today, on the 4th of September 2025, Palestine solidarity shut down the finish of stage 11 of la Vuelta in the Basque town of Bilboa. This stage of the race was cancelled by the organisers. No winner was declared. This is a first in professional cycling and in a grand tour in Europe. The Basque people have shown strong opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile Vuelta a España organisers remain cagey about continuing participation of Israel-Premier Tech squad after stage partly suspended due to pro-Palestine protests. They said: ‘We hope decisions will be taken quickly‘.
Have you noticed how many Palestinian flags there are at la Vuelta?
In contrast, French police arrested Palestinian supporters during the Tour de France in 2025. Yet it was in the ‘Hell of the North’ that Palestinian supporters helped world number one cyclist, Tadej Pogačar, to get back on his feet and get going in the classic bike race Paris-Roubaix. American cycling commentator, Chris Horner, winner of La Vuelta, gave Palestine supporters a serve for intervening in stage six of the Giro d’Italia, accusing the protesters of being criminals and of assaulting two of breakaway specialists by having them ride through a tape … like you would at the end of any race.
In contrast in Spain, there are multiple protesters on the route of la Vuelta. Palestine solidarity activists stopped the Israel Premier Tech from competing in the team time trial by blocking the road. All eight riders in the Israeli team were forced to slow down while four came to a complete stop as police on motorbikes tried to clear the road of protesters, who were holding pro-Palestinian flags and banners. None of the eight riders live in Israel, and most of the team are bought from other countries to compete and to sports wash the Israeli war crimes in Palestine.
Not since the anti-apartheid struggle in Australia have we seen such a strong boycott of a major sporting event against an apartheid state.
In July 1971, during South African apartheid, rugby union test matches played by the Springboks against Australia were ringed by police with government support for the racially selected apartheid side. In Brisbane, a racist Queensland government declared a state of emergency and took over the RNA showgrounds, then ringed the two football matches with police.
In Sydney, the goal posts were taken down by members of the Builders Labourers Federation, thus preventing their continuation of the match. Jack Mundy was taken to court and charged with contempt of court. However, because of the overwhelming solidarity of his union’s members, Mundy was let go free by the judge. Similar actions were taken by protestors in New Zealand against the Springbok tour. Many people were arrested.
I have also noticed that some commentators no longer call the Israeli team, financed by a billionaire property developer from Canada, they no longer call the team Israel Premier Tech. A few commentators delete Israel and just say the ‘Premier Tech‘ team. Is this because of embarrassment, or is it because they will lose their audience if they continue to ignore the reality of what is happening in Palestine. Yet another commentator called for police to arrest protesters during the Giro d’Italia earlier in the year.
Here are some images of la Vuelta featuring the Palestinian solidarity struggle. By the way, Italian dock workers have threatened to shut down Italy if the sumud flotilla is stopped by Israeli Navy at la the Mavi Marmara.
We spoke with an organisers from the Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) who said they “support a sporting boycott to exclude Israel from La Vuelta or any cycling event that attempts to normalise Israel’s horrific war crimes in Gaza“.
On Sunday 12th January 2025, Adelaide cycling group The Big Ride for Palestine (SA) cycled from Victoria Square to Glenelg as a curtain raiser to their campaign protesting the involvement of the Israel-Premier Tech team at this year’s Tour Down Under.
Surely the cancellation of this stage of Vuelta a España opens up the possibility of an effective boycott against all Israeli sports-washing of the genocide in Gaza. Nominal race winner Sir Tom Pidcock OBE MBE said angrily after the race: “It’s hard to describe the disappointment,” Pidcock said. “I felt like today was my day. I feel like there should always be a finish line, we’re not riding a fucking sportive, are we? I don’t “want to say anything political” … “I think putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause“. Earlier in the day Pidcock chose to duck under a Palestinian banner on the penultimate climb rather than follow his competitors around the banner.
Local Basque political party EH Bildu, that wins over 25% of the votes in the region and has representatives in the European parliament, has called for Israel‑Premier Tech’s withdrawal from the Vuelta in the buildup to the race. Surely Pidcock could simply have supported what other riders have been saying behind closed doors: withdraw Israel’s team from la Vuelta!
Israel premier tech is now effectively out of the race. During stage 12, there was a 55 riders break-away but no Israel riders participated remaining hidden from view in the peloton. This has been true of the other stages that came before the cancellation of stage 11 by the organisers. During the team time trial, activists blocked the Israel team causing it to lose time in the race.
Ian Curr
4 September 2025
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“Kiko Garcia, the Vuelta a España course director, explains he wants to see actions to help solve the issue of pro-Palestine protesters. Suggesting maybe the teams or governing body could do something about Israel – Premier Tech’s participation in the Vuelta a España 2025” – Flo Bikes.