On Wednesday, security personnel took decisive action during the Tour de France, responding to a protest concerning the participation of the Israeli team.
They quickly encircled the protesters, pushing one individual against a wall and eventually throwing him into a crowd of fans packed along the route.
This surprising altercation unfolded just 25 meters from the race’s finish line, coinciding with Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen’s victory over Swiss Mauro Schmidt in the 11th stage of the competition.
Protesters displayed shirts reading “I’ve been out of tour,” while one donned a kefiyeh, a black and white checkered scarf that symbolizes solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
After the protesters were forced to the ground, the guards pointed at them, seemingly in response to the shocked reactions of nearby spectators.
The protest appeared to target the Israeli Premier Technology Team, although it’s noteworthy that this year’s event does not feature Israeli cyclists.
In April, actions such as boycotts and protests, organized by the pro-Palestinian movement, labeled the Israeli Premier Technology as “Team Genocide,” advocating for “peaceful protest.”
The organization has urged for heightened peaceful demonstrations along cycling routes where these teams participate, asserting that roads should remain closed to those they accuse of genocide.
Protests against the team were also noted during the 2025 Amstel Gold Race in April and the Giro D’Italia in May.
Stage 11 of the Tour de France covered a distance of 156.8 km through southern French cities and will comprise a total of 21 stages, concluding on July 27th at the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
