In a dramatic twist during the Vuelta a España, the finish of stage 11 has been declared neutralized, leaving no winner as riders raced towards Bilbao.

This unexpected decision came amid pro-Palestine protests that disrupted the stage, compelling organizers to set the official timing at 3 kilometers from the finish line.

The announcement by race officials over the radio indicated that, despite the chaos, points for mountain classification and intermediate sprint would still be awarded—except for the final finish.

As the riders approached the finish, a select group of 13 riders, including the formidable race leader Jonas Vingegaard, was climbing toward the final ascent of the Alto de Pike. However, their progress was blocked by protesters wielding Palestine flags, a sight captured by TV cameras showing police forming a barrier at the line.

This year's Vuelta has already seen multiple interruptions due to protests. Earlier, during the stage 5 team time trial, Israel-Premier Tech faced delays from activists in the road, and stage 10 witnessed another alarming incident when protesters caused a crash involving Simone Petilli.

Following stage 11, riders engaged in discussions with organizers and the UCI. Rider representative Elia Viviani expressed cautious optimism, stating, "If everything remains peaceful, we can continue normally. But safety is our priority. If disruptions continue, we'll have to reassess."

Even before the stage began, the atmosphere was tense, as the peloton had to halt in the neutral zone for police to clear protesters.

With more stages ahead, the question remains: how will the ongoing protests impact the race?