"Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike won the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday after organisers cancelled the final stage amid pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid. It is still unknown whether there will be a winning ceremony with the situation as it is, with thousands of protesters filling downtown Madrid, organisers said. The race has been officially ended and Jonas Vingegaard is the winner. Protesters repeatedly halted cyclists and clashed with police during the final leg of the race."
"Protesters threw barricades into the middle of the street on Gran Via, one of the city's main thoroughfares through which the race had been due to pass. The clashes came hours after the country's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he admired the pro-Palestinian protesters whose activities along the race route led some riders to threaten to quit the competition last week."
Organisers cancelled the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana and officially ended the race, declaring Jonas Vingegaard the winner. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters filled central Madrid, repeatedly halting cyclists, overturning metal barriers and occupying the race route while clashing with police. Protesters threw barricades onto Gran Via and targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team, prompting threats from some riders to quit the competition. More than 1,000 police officers were deployed for the anticipated demonstrations. The presence of large crowds left the status of a winner's ceremony uncertain, and Spain's prime minister expressed admiration for the protesters' mobilisation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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