Keffiyeh-Waving Protester Storms Tour de France Finish Line
A pro-Palestinian protester from Extinction Rebellion Toulouse disrupted the Tour de France’s Stage 11 sprint in Toulouse, targeting Israel-Premier Tech’s participation, but was quickly tackled and arrested. The incident, which occurred as Jonas Abrahamsen won the stage, highlighted ongoing protests against the team amid heightened security measures.
A pro-Palestinian protester from Extinction Rebellion Toulouse disrupted the final sprint of Stage 11 Yesterday at the Tour de France in Toulouse, France, targeting the Israel-Premier Tech team. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “Israel out of the Tour” and waving a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, the activist breached security barriers just 25 meters from the finish line as Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen and Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid sprinted for victory. Abrahamsen, riding for Uno-X Mobility, clinched his first Tour stage win in a photo finish, undeterred by the chaos. “I broke my collarbone four weeks ago. I cried at the hospital because I thought I wouldn’t make it to the Tour de France,” Abrahamsen said. “To stand here and have won a stage is amazing.”
Race official Stéphane Boury swiftly tackled the protester, pinning him against the barriers before French riot police (CRS) arrested him. Extinction Rebellion Toulouse claimed responsibility, stating, “By allowing the team to participate, the Tour de France becomes complicit in the genocide and contributes to polishing its image.” The group’s statement denounced Israel-Premier Tech’s presence, accusing the Tour of complicity in Israel's war in Gaza since the October 2023 massacre by Hamas.
A nearby spectator was injured during the incident, receiving prolonged paramedic treatment, though no direct link was confirmed. Israel-Premier Tech, led by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams since 2014, issued a statement: “Israel-Premier Tech respects everyone’s right to free speech which includes the right to protest. However, the team absolutely condemns any protests or actions of individuals that interfere with racing at the Tour de France or threaten the safety of the entire peloton.”
The team, which joined the Tour in 2020 after acquiring Katusha’s WorldTour license, has faced protests at every Grand Tour since October 2023, prompting heightened security, including armed police escorts. With no Israeli riders this year, their top finisher was Joe Blackmore in 50th place. Social media posts on X criticized the protest, with one user stating, “Endangering cyclists for politics is reckless.” The incident, following a similar disruption at the Giro d’Italia, underscores ongoing tensions as the Tour continues toward the Pyrenees.