Anti-Israel protests turn Spanish Vuelta cycling race into a diplomatic battleground

['The Associated Press', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-09-13 09:44:17

People hold Palestinian flags as they try to disrupt the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. “The protests were born from the idea that our only chance to defend human rights regarding Israel is the Spanish Vuelta,” Prieto, 48, told The Associated Press by phone. “You make Israel proud!”People hold Palestinian flags during the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. “Everyone has a right to protest, but it’s a shame that it has to happen here and in this way and that we can’t finish the race,” race leader Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, said after Wednesday’s stage finish was shortened. Authorities will deploy 1,500 police for the final stage, adding to the 130 officers already traveling with the race.