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During his appearance on Prime on i24NEWS last night, Zadok Yehezkeli, Communications Director for Israel Premier Tech, discussed the serious incidents that marred the 2025 Vuelta.
On Sunday, September 14, the 21st and final stage of the race in Madrid was interrupted 56 km from the finish due to a massive intrusion of pro-Palestinian demonstrators onto the course. The 11th and 16th stages had already been neutralized for the same reasons. According to Yehezkeli, these disruptions, which began at the start of the race, were “perfectly organized and coordinated,” an unprecedented situation. In Bilbao, in particular, thousands of demonstrators targeted the team led by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams and registered in Israel, creating extreme tensions and endangering the safety of the riders.
“Some riders, especially the foreign ones, were in shock. They have nothing to do with this conflict, yet they were targeted,” explained Yehezkeli. Faced with the escalation of violence, a Spanish official even advised the team to withdraw to guarantee its safety.
Despite these pressures, Israel Premier Tech remains unyielding. “We will be back next year. We have the right to participate in all competitions, and we hope that security measures will be put in place to protect all teams and preserve the spirit of this sport,” Yehezkeli declared with determination, affirming the team’s desire to continue to shine on the international cycling scene.
As a reminder, only one Israeli rider was part of the team during this 2025 Vuelta.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) also reacted firmly with an official statement published on September 15. The UCI expresses its “total disapproval and deep concern” regarding these events. It strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes, particularly by governments, and deems it “unacceptable and counterproductive” for cycling to be diverted from its universal mission of peace and unity. The UCI particularly regrets the statements by the Spanish government, which expressed admiration for the demonstrators, and questions Spain’s ability to host major sporting events under these conditions.
It reaffirms the autonomy of sport and its peacemaking role, emphasizing that dedicated platforms exist for political disputes. Furthermore, the UCI commends the exemplary work of the Spanish law enforcement agencies and the organizers of the Vuelta for their management in a tense context, and congratulates the final winner, Jonas Vingegaard, for his performance despite the circumstances.
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