Protesters bring cycling's Vuelta a Espana to early finish

The 2025 Vuelta a Espana cycling race halted its final stage in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday after protesters took over the city streets.

Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark was declared the winner of the three-week event after entering Stage 21 in the lead.

Palestinian flags have been a constant presence during each stage over the past three weeks amid objections over the inclusion of the Israel-Premier Tech team, declared even before the Vuelta a Espana began.

Midway through the three-week Vuelta, the team removed the reference to Israel on its team jerseys but continued to participate in the race.

Protesters also halted Stage 11 on Sept. 3, which finished with no winner declared. Another stage used an improvised finish line 8 kilometers before the actual planned finish when protesters began to occupy the streets near that finish line.

On Stage 15, a protestor stumbled onto the course causing Javier Romo of Spain and Edward Planckaert of Belgium to crash. Romo withdrew from the race with injuries. Threats of protests also shortened the Stage 18 time trial from 27.2 kilometers to 12.2 kilometers.

Saturday's Stage 20 also was impacted with protesters on the course, but it finished as planned.

Sunday's final stage was scheduled for 111.6 kilometers but was halted with 57 kilometers to go as protesters again occupied the streets.

The highest finishing Israel-Premier Tech rider was Matthew Riccitello of Tucson, Ariz., who was fifth overall heading into the final stage. Sepp Kuss of Durango, Colo., was seventh overall while Matteo Jorgenson of Boise, Idaho, was 10th.

The Vuelta a Espana is one of cycling's three Grand Tour events along with the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.

--Field Level Media