Stage 16 of the 2025 Vuelta a España will go down as one of the most turbulent days in recent cycling history, not for the drama on the road alone, but for the surging wave of protests that forced organizers to once again cut the race short. The Spanish Grand Tour, already reeling from earlier disruptions, found itself at the epicenter of a political storm as hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked the final kilometers of Tuesday’s route into Mos-Castro de Herville. The finish line was hastily moved, and Colombian star Egan Bernal emerged victorious in a sprint that capped an emotional comeback, but the day’s events underscored the deep divisions and complex realities facing the sport.
For the second time in less than two weeks, Vuelta organizers were compelled to alter their plans in response to mass protests. On September 3, Stage 11 was abruptly ended three kilometers from the intended finish in Bilbao as protestors voiced their outrage at the continued participation of the Israel–Premier Tech (IPT) team. Organizers hoped the unrest would subside as the race left the Basque region, but if anything, the opposition only intensified. On September 9, as the peloton approached the final ascent to Castro de Herville, approximately 1,000 to 1,500 protestors waving Palestinian flags formed a human blockade just three kilometers from the finish. The organizers, determined to avoid a complete stage cancellation, shifted the finish line eight kilometers earlier, at the foot of the climb.
"It's a victory and after the drop from the GC, I really wanted a win," Bernal told reporters after clinching the truncated stage. "In the end, with Landa the cooperation was super good and when we knew that the final would be with 8 kilometres left, we were like, 'OK, so we just sprint.'" Bernal’s triumph was a bright spot for the Ineos Grenadiers rider, who has been battling back from severe injuries, but the circumstances surrounding the finish inevitably overshadowed the sporting achievement.
Race leader Jonas Vingegaard, who retained his red jersey despite suffering a late puncture, weighed in on the disruption. "It's a shame that this has happened again," Vingegaard said. "Everyone has the right to protest, but it's unfortunate that it had to happen here and in this way, preventing us from finishing the race." The Danish star’s sentiments were echoed by other riders, many of whom have found themselves caught between the demands of competition and the realities of political protest. Australian Jai Hindley, currently sitting in fourth place overall, managed to finish with the main group, six minutes behind Bernal, while Spain’s Mikel Landa and France’s Brieuc Rolland rounded out the stage podium.
The protests have centered on Israel–Premier Tech, a team co-owned by Sylvan Adams, who has described himself as a "self-appointed ambassador-at-large for Israel." Demonstrators, as well as some within the peloton, have demanded the team’s removal from the race, arguing that its presence is an endorsement of Israeli policies in Gaza. Adams, for his part, has been defiant. On September 3, he dismissed rumors of a name change or withdrawal, declaring, "Fake news. We will never ride without the name Israel." Yet just two days later, IPT quietly removed the word "Israel" from team jerseys, a move announced on the same day the regional government of Asturias boycotted the race over IPT’s involvement.
The controversy has not been limited to the Vuelta. The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which oversees the Tour de France, reportedly asked IPT to change its name during the 2025 Tour, citing security concerns and the expense of providing extra protection for the team. The ASO’s request, along with mounting pressure from riders and officials, highlights the growing unease within professional cycling’s upper echelons regarding the intersection of sport and geopolitics.
Inside the peloton, opinions are divided. Several riders have privately called for IPT’s exclusion, citing both the disruption to the race and broader ethical concerns. Daryl Impey, IPT’s South African director, acknowledged the tensions, revealing a spat with Visma’s Matteo Jorgenson in a private WhatsApp chat. "There have also been some riders supporting, some riders feeling bad," Impey said. "But Jorgenson has been the most vocal in that group, he's probably the guy who's had the most to say. So, maybe you should ask Jorgenson what he thinks. He's been pretty vocal, messaging the guys to leave. I don't know who made him king of the Vuelta, but maybe you should go ask him what he thinks." Jorgenson, when asked, responded, "I don't have a comment to make on it, and I've already voiced my opinion in a situation where I'm able to and I can make an impact. I think sometimes cyclists are really in our own world and focused on our tasks, so we're all sometimes annoyed when situations arise. And I'm just trying to encourage everyone to come out of that and realize the bigger situations and take some perspective."
Race officials have been unequivocal in their condemnation of the protests. Javier Guillen, the Vuelta’s director, addressed the media after Stage 16, stating, "I'm here before you because, from La Vuelta, we want to clearly express our strongest rejection of what we experienced today. Fortunately, the stage was completed in terms of timing and the stage winner but, obviously, the stage did not end where we had planned. The main message I want to share with you today is that we are going to continue with La Vuelta, and tomorrow we will start the next stage. You cannot cut stages short, you cannot block the cyclists' path. It's illegal because it's defined as such both in the Penal Code and in the Sports Law. We are a sport and sport is meant to unite, anything that doesn't serve that purpose isn't linked to sport. We want to defend our sport, we want to defend our race, and that's why we want to keep working."
Guillen also emphasized that decisions regarding team participation are not within the organizers’ purview, noting, "There have been calls to suspend the Israel-Premier Tech team from the race, but... no international federation has done so, none. And there hasn't been any international body that has imposed sanctions requiring us, the world of sport, to act accordingly. From now on, what we want is for the race to continue because all the teams participating in La Vuelta have legitimacy."
The protests have not been without consequences on the road. Stage 15 saw a protester cause a crash involving Javier Romo and Edward Planckaert, with Romo ultimately abandoning the race due to injuries. Earlier stages were also marred by incidents, including a group of protestors halting the Israel–Premier Tech team during the team time trial and paint being thrown at the team car.
With five stages remaining before the planned finish in Madrid, organizers have ruled out any "Plan B"—the race will proceed as scheduled, despite the persistent threat of further protests. As the Vuelta presses on, the tension between the desire for sporting excellence and the realities of a charged political climate remains unresolved. For now, the riders, organizers, and fans alike are left to navigate a race where the action off the road is proving every bit as compelling—and contentious—as the competition itself.
