Gran Canaria to Withdraw from Vuelta Due to Israel's Participation

The President of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, has stated that the island will not host stages of the Vuelta a España cycling race if there is a team from Israel. He made this statement during an action in support of the Palestinians, protesting against the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza. The action took place in Santa Ana Square, immediately after protests by supporters of Palestine disrupted the Vuelta final in Madrid.

This scandal, which began with the disruption of the final stage of the Vuelta in Madrid, now also affects the Canary Islands. The fact is that about a year ago there was an idea to hold stages of the race in Gran Canaria and Tenerife in 2026. Now Morales' position casts doubt on the holding of the Vuelta in Gran Canaria and affects plans for Tenerife.

The preliminary agreement on holding the race on the islands (for the first time since 1988) was complex and required the participation of many parties. It involved the tourism and sports departments of the Canary Islands government, as well as the administrations of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Everything was agreed with the race director, Javier Guillén. There were two main conditions: the Vuelta must take place on at least two large islands and end in the Canary Islands. Now, due to the possible refusal of Gran Canaria (Morales is threatening the organizers, but the Vuelta cannot exclude teams, this is decided by the International Cycling Union), the agreement is under threat.

The government of the Canary Islands will have to decide whether it is worth holding the race at all if it does not pass through Gran Canaria. And the organizers of the Vuelta will have to agree to a change in conditions. Will Tenerife be able to host more than two stages? Costs will increase, and it is unknown whether it will be possible to find enough alternative routes. The Tenerife administration has not yet commented on the situation, but promises to do so in the near future. The dreams of President Rosa Dávila and Vice President Lope Afonso of a finishing stage on the roads of Teide are becoming increasingly unrealistic.

Morales recalled that even before the start of the Vuelta and the controversy over the participation of the Israeli team, the Gran Canaria administration signed a preliminary agreement with the organizers. But, according to him, "there is nothing definitively signed."

"There is no final agreement that the Vuelta a España will definitely take place in Gran Canaria next year. We were ready to host it, and it seemed to us that it was an interesting event for the island. The agreement was also to involve the government of the Canary Islands and the administration of Tenerife. But I want to make it clear: not with the participation of Israel," said the island's president.

Morales added that "Gran Canaria is not going to justify the genocide in Gaza and whitewash Israel's image through sports or anything else." "Therefore," he emphasized, "we will see what happens next, but with the participation of Israel, Gran Canaria will not host the Vuelta a España."