Last Vuelta stage canceled due to protests – Vingegaard overall winner

(sda) The 80th edition of the Vuelta a España comes to an unpleasant end: renewed protests in Madrid force the cancellation of the final stage. Overall winner Jonas Vingegaard is denied a triumphant ride.

Pro-Palestinian protesters, who had gathered in their thousands for the 21st and final stage of the Vuelta a España, invaded the race track at several locations in central Madrid, even before the peloton passed them.

As a result of the incidents, the riders dismounted their bikes around 56 km from the finish to assess the situation. They then continued the race slowly, escorted by race control cars, before another stop and, shortly thereafter, the race was abandoned.

Since the Vuelta arrived on Spanish soil, the race has been the scene of almost daily pro-Palestinian protests, particularly against the Israel-Premier Tech team. These demonstrations caused significant disruption, forcing several stages to be shortened.

Instead of a triumphant ride, Jonas Vingegaard experienced an abrupt finale in the Spanish capital on Sunday. The Dane nevertheless secured his third overall victory in a three-week tour, following his victories at the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France.

Vingegaard took the overall lead by 1:16 minutes over Portuguese Tour de Suisse winner João Almeida. British Olympic mountain bike champion Thomas Pidcock of the Swiss team Q36.5 completed the podium just over three minutes behind.