"Every rider at the Vuelta a Espana is against genocide" – Spanish legend Pedro Delgado defends peloton after anti-Israel protests turn violent in Madrid

The 2025 Vuelta a Espana will be remembered for a long time. Sadly though, less for its racing than for the repeated protests that overshadowed the three-week stage race. The inclusion of Israel - Premier Tech triggered repeated demonstrations, culminating in violent clashes in Madrid and the unprecedented cancellation of the final stage, with prior days having already been neutralised or brought to a premature end.

Former Tour de France winner and long-time commentator 'Perico' Pedro Delgado has now added his voice to the debate, insisting that riders should not be blamed for the controversy. “I am against genocide. And I can tell you that all the riders there, like everyone in the Vuelta a Espana, are against what is happening. It’s natural law,” the Spaniard legend told viewers in his analysis collected by MARCA.

Delgado questioned the consistency of international sport’s response to political crises, pointing to Russia’s exclusion from most competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.

“So, how is this reconciled? Diplomacy is diplomacy. If sanctions were imposed on Russia, then why not against Israel?” he asked.

He argued that it was unfair to shift blame onto riders, organisers or the race itself when responsibility lay with governing bodies and political institutions. “Putting the focus on those without authority is shirking your own responsibility. It’s about wanting to look good while refusing to face reality,” said the three-time Grand Tour winner. 

Delgado added that citizens were left “living with anguish and deep sorrow” while those with genuine decision-making power had failed to act.

The 2025 edition was defined by disruption, with organisers forced into difficult compromises amid rising tensions. The Madrid finale – traditionally a celebratory sprint – was among the casualties of protest action, denying Jasper Philipsen the chance of a fourth stage win.

On the road, Jonas Vingegaard claimed his first Vuelta crown with three stage victories, reinforcing his status as one of the sport’s dominant Grand Tour riders. Tom Pidcock secured his maiden podium at a three-week race, while Philipsen still emerged with three wins despite curtailed opportunities. For the first time in the race’s history, however, no Spaniard finished inside the top 10 of the general classification – a symbolic blow in a year when the Vuelta’s identity was already under intense scrutiny.

Delgado’s remarks come as the sport continues to wrestle with how to respond to political and humanitarian crises. The governing body, the UCI, has so far resisted calls to act on Israel - Premier Tech’s participation, while protests have raised questions about security, freedom of expression and the boundaries between sport and politics.

As seen at this year’s Vuelta, those questions are no longer theoretical: they have directly shaped racing, forced stage cancellations and left organisers scrambling to balance safety with spectacle. Delgado’s intervention highlights the growing pressure on institutions above the peloton to provide clarity on an issue that is unlikely to fade any time soon.