Anti-Israel Protests at Vuelta Set Dangerous Precedent Against Sports Events: Why This Matters
- Uri Pilichowski
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel. The Nova Music Festival was one of the central targets of the attack, where at least 364 civilians were killed and 40 hostages were reportedly taken.
Since the attacks, anti-Israel and antisemitic protests have become more of an issue for the safety of global Jewry. One example is college campuses, where a recent poll commissioned by the Israel on Campus Coalition found that 74% of Jewish college students believe that antisemitism is a serious problem on campus, 30% reported experiencing antisemitism, 29% reported witnessing an antisemitic event, and 22% reported hearing about antisemitic events.
The situation has become dangerous; Jews are being attacked and killed. Local pro-Palestinians attacked a group of Israeli Maccabi football fans in Amsterdam in an antisemitic attack.
Israeli officials said 10 people were injured in the attack that left the European Jewish community in shock on the eve of the Nazi ‘Kristallnacht’ 86th anniversary. Two Israeli embassy aides from the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington, D.C, in May 2025 by a man who shouted “free, free Palestine.”
Next stage of anti-Israel protests
A man carrying a Palestinian flag caused a crash on the 15th stage of the Vuelta a España on Sunday when he ran toward the road as riders approached in the latest disruption to the major cycling race by anti-Israel protesters.
The protester tripped and did not quite make it to the road. He was apparently hiding from security as the riders approached with about 55 kilometers left in the 168-kilometer (104-mile) stage. A police officer also crossed the road in front of the riders after he saw the protester making his run on the other side.
The protester and the injuries he caused had long ramifications past the immediate incident. The Israel-Premier Tech team began racing in modified jerseys that did not display their team name during the race.
Anti-Israel protests set dangerous precedent
There was no winner declared on the stage of the injury due to protesters at the finish line in Bilbao. Israel-Premier Tech was also the target of protests during the team time-trial last week, and there have been suggestions that some members of the peloton would like the team to withdraw from the race.
The Israel-Premier Tech team has said pulling out of this year’s Vuelta a España would “set a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling.”
After stage 11, though, Israel-Premier Tech pledged to continue. “Israel–Premier Tech is a professional cycling team,” the team said in a statement. “As such, the team remains committed to racing on at the Vuelta a España. Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling, not only for Israel–Premier Tech, but for all teams.
“Israel–Premier Tech has repeatedly expressed its respect for everyone’s right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton. The Vuelta a España race organisation and police are doing everything in their power to create a safe environment and, for that, the team is especially grateful.”
Absurd Spanish reactions
Spain’s foreign minister said he would support expelling Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta a España after the Israeli cycling team was targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who disrupted the race.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Thursday that he would “understand and be in favor” of removing Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta a España, but stressed the government does not claim to have the power to do so. “We have to send a message to Israel and the Israeli society that Europe and Israel can only have normal relations when human rights are respected,” Albares said.
In addition to the incidents at the Vuelta a España, a Spanish chess tournament this week reportedly forbade Israeli players from competing under their national flag, before reversing its decision, underscoring the growing international hostility toward Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas.
Wrap up
Former Spokesman for the State of Israel, Eylon Levy wrote a short but succinct post on “X” summarizing the Spanish reaction to protests against Israel, “The Spanish Inquisition never ended.” If Spain is allowed to ban Israel after it was attacked, or Israel pulls out of events, anti-Israel protesters will be encouraged to escalate their activities, including attacking Jews.
Uri Pilichowski is an author, speaker, and senior educator at institutions around the world.