“If Israel participates the answer is no” – Canary Islands release huge statement on hosting the Vuelta a Espana in 2026

Following the dramatic events of the past three weeks at the Vuelta a España 2025, questions already loom over the future of Spain’s grand tour. After multiple stages were disrupted and the race ended prematurely in Madrid due to pro-Palestinian protests, organisers face mounting uncertainty about where and how to safely stage future editions. The 2026 Vuelta was expected to conclude in the Canary Islands, but that plan is now in jeopardy.

Antonio Morales, president of the Gran Canaria Local Council, was unequivocal about his stance. "I must say with absolute conviction that if Israel participates, the answer is no. Gran Canaria is not willing to whitewash genocide and Israel's actions through sport or in any other way," Morales told Spanish newspaper AS.

His words strike at the heart of the debate: whether international sport can remain neutral when political conflict is so visible and so raw. That question has been left brutally exposed after the last three weeks.

Morales doubled down on his position. "We'll see what happens in the coming months, but of course, if Israel participates, Gran Canaria will not host the Vuelta a España," he says firmly. This bombshell declaration demonstrates how the fallout from the 2025 edition is likely to extend far beyond Madrid, with consequences for race planning and even the long-term credibility of cycling’s governing bodies.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has made its own position clear. It has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to ban Israel - Premier Tech from competition. The federation is following the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, which previously set the precedent by barring Russian teams from international competition. Unlike Russia, however, Israel - Premier Tech continues to be recognised by the UCI, leaving organisers little room to maneuver if protests escalate further.

The implications stretch beyond the Vuelta. Cycling’s biggest race, the Tour de France, is due to start in Barcelona in 2026, raising fresh concerns after the chaos in Spain this September. Belgian broadcaster Sporza’s Renaat Schotte warned about the broader risk: "Israel-Premier Tech had seven riders left in the race, which is 4.5% of the peloton. Initially, the protest was obviously aimed at those riders, but the entire peloton is the victim."

Schotte also highlighted the political dimension of staging major races in Spain at such a tense time. "The Tour starts next year in Barcelona. So I think ASO, the organizer of the Tour, which is also involved in the Vuelta, will ask Spanish politicians for guarantees," he said. In his view, Madrid’s failures in 2025 point to the dangers of pushing ahead without firm commitments from local authorities. "In these circumstances, it is difficult to organise a top event like the Tour if this is hanging over your head."

That the Vuelta collapsed under such pressure while the Tour de France survived unscathed in July is striking. The Tour is cycling’s crown jewel, with a larger audience, more spectators on the roads, and far greater global reach. Yet it escaped the disruptions that plagued the Vuelta, from Bilbao to the Angliru to Madrid. For the Tour’s organisers, that contrast is no comfort. Instead, it underlines the fragility of cycling’s security model and the fear that if protests return, they may choose the world’s biggest stage next time.

As planning for the 2026 season begins, both the Vuelta and Tour de France face the same daunting reality: cycling’s openness makes it uniquely vulnerable. Without guarantees of protection from governments and police forces, the prospect of neutralised stages, shortened routes, or even cancelled finales remains real. The bombshell from Gran Canaria is a warning that the aftershocks of the Vuelta 2025 are far from over.