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Egan Bernal Wins Stage 16 of Vuelta a España Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests

Posted : 09 September 2025

Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal emerged victorious in Stage 16 of the Vuelta a España, a stage shortened by eight kilometres due to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The protests, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team, have disrupted multiple stages this year, including Stage 11, which was shortened without a declared winner.

 

On Tuesday, race officials decided to award the stage victory and record times earlier than planned after a significant protest occurred three kilometres from the finish line. The stage had originally been scheduled to cover 168 kilometres from Poio to Castro de Herville before being cut short.

 

The protests have affected riders physically and mentally. During Stage 15 on Sunday, a demonstrator caused a minor crash involving Spain’s Javier Romo, who abandoned the race in Stage 16 due to mental and physical strain. The 26-year-old Movistar rider had suffered only minor bruises in the earlier crash but was unable to continue, quitting 80 kilometres from the finish.

 

Earlier disruptions included Stage 5’s team time trial, where the Israel-Premier Tech squad, owned by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, was stopped on the road by protesters carrying Palestinian flags.

 

Bernal, representing Ineos Grenadiers, completed the shortened Stage 16 in three hours, 35 minutes, and 10 seconds, edging out Spanish cyclist Mikel Landa for the win. France’s Brieuc Rolland claimed third place, while 22-year-old British rider Finlay Pickering finished eighth.

 

Despite the stage outcome, Jonas Vingegaard, two-time Tour de France winner, maintains the lead in the general classification, with Joao Almeida 48 seconds behind and Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock in third place. The next stage, a 143-kilometre medium mountain route from O Barco de Valdeorras to Ponferrada, is set for Friday.

 

The protests are rooted in the ongoing conflict in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. The ensuing Israeli military campaign has resulted in at least 64,605 deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities, highlighting the broader geopolitical tensions affecting the sporting event.

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