Jonas Vingegaard secures Vuelta a Espana as race stopped by anti-Israel protests

MADRID – Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard won the Vuelta a Espana on Sept 14, but was denied crossing the line in triumph as the 21st and final stage of the trouble-hit three-week race was abandoned when pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the finish in Madrid.

“It’s a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us. I’m really disappointed about that,” said Vingegaard, who celebrated in his team car rather than the podium.

The Visma-Lease a Bike rider effectively wrapped up victory in the last Grand Tour of 2025, after winning the mountain stage on Sept 13 to stretch his lead over Portugal’s Joao Almeida to 1min 16sec.

The Sept 14 ride from Alalpardo into the capital was always going to be little more than a procession for the peloton but, with riders already in Madrid and approaching the city circuit, they were halted at around 6.20pm local time with 60km remaining.

Vingegaard was seen shaking hands with teammates as confusion reigned, before it was confirmed that the race would not reach its scheduled finish.

“For security reasons, Stage 21 of La Vuelta has been ended early. There will be no podium ceremony,” the organisers said, as thousands of protesters filled downtown Madrid. “The race has been officially ended and Jonas Vingegaard is the winner.”

It is the first time one of cycling’s Grand Tours has been prevented from completing its final stage by political demonstrators, since the Vuelta in 1978 was halted by Basque separatists in San Sebastian.

While the race will be remembered as one of the most volatile in the Vuelta’s history, with protests causing chaos since Stage 5, it was a landmark one for Vingegaard.

It was his third Grand Tour victory, after the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023. He is also the first Danish winner of the Spanish race.

Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) was second, with Britain’s Tom Pidcock third – his first podium finish in a Grand Tour.

That Vingegaard, the pre-race favourite, would win the general classification has rarely looked in doubt since he reclaimed the leader’s red jersey on Stage 10.

What had looked in more doubt though was whether the 90th edition of the Vuelta – a race that is no stranger to protests – would even reach its climax in Madrid.

Trouble started on Stage 5 in Figueres, where half a dozen demonstrators attempted to stop the Israel-Premier Tech team from racing in the team time trial.

Stage 11 to Bilbao was suspended 3km from the finale because of protests, Stage 16 was cut short by 8km and Stage 18’s individual time trial in Valladolid was more than halved in length because of security fears.

Stage 20 ended as planned, despite a sit-down protest around 18km from the finish that forced riders to reroute.

The closing stage had already been diverted to avoid demonstrations in outlying towns.

But, once a large group of banner-waving protesters swarmed Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana, the planned finish, the organisers had to admit defeat.

Far from rising across the line with arms aloft, Vingegaard was left to celebrate in the back of his yellow team car. 

“We must realise that sport is essentially about connection. It can build bridges and foster mutual understanding,” said Visma-Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge.

“But the participants must be protected. They cannot become victims of this societal debate.”

Race director Javier Guillen added on Sept 15: “What happened yesterday was absolutely unacceptable, I regret the image it gave (to the world) and it should not be repeated.

“I don’t think we can take anything good out of what happened yesterday. It’s fine for people to take advantage of the Vuelta to make their statement, but we also demand respect for the race.”

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Israel and Russia should be banned from international sports competitions until “barbaric acts” end, referring to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

He also condemned the violent pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid. REUTERS, AFP