Overview

• Organizers abandoned the last stage after protesters overturned barriers, blocked the course and clashed with police near the finish, with two arrests and 22 reported injuries and an official estimate of about 100,000 people on the streets.
• Jonas Vingegaard was confirmed as overall winner, but the official podium in Madrid was canceled and teams later improvised a private ceremony.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Israel should be excluded from international competitions during the Gaza war and voiced admiration for demonstrators, drawing criticism from Israeli officials and domestic opponents.
• The International Cycling Union expressed total disapproval of the Vuelta disruptions and condemned political exploitation of sport, faulting the Spanish government’s stance.
• Race director Javier Guillén said organizers were bound by UCI admission rules to include Israel–Premier Tech, which raced in de‑branded kit; officials signaled reviews on security and governance ahead of major events such as the 2026 Tour de France start in Barcelona.