The Vuelta a España is supposed to be a pure battle of watts, tactics, and survival across Spain’s most demanding climbs. But the 2025 edition has been defined as much by protests as by racing. Pro-Palestinian protests have repeatedly targeted Israel–Premier Tech, spilling into the road and shaking the safety of the peloton. Now, with Stage 11 in Bilbao neutralized and no winner declared, La Vuelta is fighting to keep its identity as a race intact.

(Photo/Screenshot via Flo Sports)

Vuelta a España 2025: What Happened So Far?

The first flashpoint came during Stage 5, a team time trial in Figueres. Protesters stormed the course mid-effort, waving banners and blocking Israel–Premier Tech mid-effort. The disruption shattered the team’s rhythm, forcing the commissaires to award a time adjustment afterward. It was the first sign that the Vuelta’s drama would not be confined to the legs of the riders.

The team was already on tenterhooks, as one of their riders, Derek Gee, had terminated his contract with the team just before the event, wondering if others might follow. “I confirm that my contract with Israel-Premier Tech has been formally and duly terminated by my legal representatives,” Gee stated in his announcement, posted to X and Instagram on Monday.

Stage 10: Chaos and a Crash

Things escalated on Stage 10 when protesters again entered the course. This time, Intermarché–Wanty’s Simone Petilli went down in the commotion. He later called for protests to steer clear of endangering riders, emphasizing that the peloton is “just doing our job.” For many, this incident turned frustration into genuine fear. Now the riders would have a general safety meeting along with the formal morning announcements for each stage.

Stage 11: Neutralized in Bilbao

The tension reached its peak on Stage 11. Protesters blocked the road in the final kilometers, forcing organizers to neutralize the race three kilometers from the finish. No stage win was awarded, and the points classifications were frozen. For riders like Tom Pidcock, who had just launched an attack, it was a bitter pill. For the peloton as a whole, it was a moment of unease, rare in a Grand Tour, where the unexpected usually comes from attacks, weather, or crashes, not protests.

Tom Pidcock attacks (Photo/Screenshot via Flo Sports)

Before the stage, riders had already met with race officials and the UCI. Their message was simple: they wanted to race, but not at the expense of safety. The Professional Cyclists’ Association backed them up, condemning disruptions that risk athlete well-being and urging organizers to tighten security.

Israel–Premier Tech’s Factor bikes are all prepped for a stage of the Giro 2025. Photo: Cory Benson

Why Israel–Premier Tech Is at the Center

Israel–Premier Tech sits at the eye of the storm. While technically a professional trade team with multinational riders, their identity has become tied, symbolically, if not directly, to the ongoing Gaza conflict. Protesters have used La Vuelta’s spotlight to amplify their cause, with IPT riders caught in the crossfire.

Race technical director Kiko García even floated the idea that IPT consider withdrawing to ease tensions. The team has pushed back firmly, calling that a “dangerous precedent” and reaffirming their commitment to keep racing.

Riders Speak Out

Across the peloton, the mood is uneasy. Some riders admit they understand the motivations of the protestors, but most are clear: protests can’t compromise safety. Former Vuelta winner Sepp Kuss went so far as to call the situation untenable, demanding more robust security before something worse happens.

The consensus is clear: the race can go on, but only if the road is guaranteed safe for the athletes who make La Vuelta what it is.

Photo: BH

Unsafe or Unprepared?

Cycling has always been more exposed to outside forces than other pro sports. Roads are public, crowds line every kilometer, and the peloton races through cities, villages, and mountain passes without barriers. That openness is part of the magic — and the risk.

This year, protests have collided with racing in ways the sport (but mostly organizers) isn’t equipped to handle. The 2025 Vuelta a España will be remembered as much for neutralized stages and security briefings as for heroic breakaways or summit finishes.

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