During the first half of September 2025, the stages of that year’s Cycling Tour took place across Spain. From Catalonia to Madrid, passing through Galicia, citizens organized to denounce the participation in the sporting event of the team representing Israel, a state accused of systematically violating the rights of the Palestinian people and of carrying out a genocide.
Solidarity mobilizations with Palestine managed to disrupt the course of the competition in several stages. The protests led to route changes and reductions in distance at different locations: 3 kilometers in Bilbo, 8 in Mos, and 15 in Valladolid. Ultimately, Stage 21, which was scheduled to finish in Madrid, was cancelled following the public mobilizations. These actions were a consequence of international inaction in the face of Israel’s ongoing human rights violations.
Despite the impact of the mobilizations, support groups for those facing reprisals also denounced an increase in surveillance and administrative sanctions. According to the collective “Represaliadas Volta Ciclista,” many people who had not been identified in person and had not participated in any form of disturbance later received fines accompanied by images captured by drones, together with their personal data and accusations related to road blockages and alleged xenophobic behavior.
Activists denounce the treatment of peaceful protests as equivalent to violence in the sporting sphere. In this regard, they argue that the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport treated these protest actions in the same way as episodes of football-related violence, thereby contributing to a climate of criminalization of protest and the defense of human rights.
This persecution of pro-Palestinian activists takes place within a broader international context of growing repression and surveillance. The use of technological tools by states to identify, monitor, and punish dissenting voices is becoming increasingly common. The use of surveillance technology against people who exercised their right to peaceful protest is particularly serious. International solidarity and collective action are essential to confront injustice and dynamics of institutional intimidation.
Sources:
Wikipedia (2026). Vuelta a España 2025. https://es.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vuelta_a_Espa%C3%B1a_2025&oldid=171146257
Represaliadas Volta Ciclista. https://www.instagram.com/represaliadas_volta_ciclista/