Over 100,000 people joined a major Palestinian solidarity protest in Madrid on Sunday, interrupting the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta and forcing organisers to cut the prestigious Grand Tour cycling race short.

Demonstrators overturned barriers and occupied the race route at several locations, while police struggled to contain the crowds. The protests targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, with race disruptions and blocked routes causing some riders to threaten withdrawal and leading to falls earlier in the week.

More than 1,000 police officers were deployed on Sunday as the 21-day race concluded in the Spanish capital. Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, voiced his admiration for the protesters earlier in the day, capping a campaign of activism that repeatedly disrupted the event.