Barcelona’s demand comes as tension between Spain and the UCI continues to mount. Cycling’s governing body [had criticised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez](https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/uci-attacks-spanish-government-over-vuelta-protests/) after the cancellation of the Vuelta’s final stage, describing his support for protestors as incompatible with “Olympic values” and questioning Spain’s capacity to host major international events.
[Spain’s reply](https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/spanish-government-hits-back-at-uci-criticism-over-vuelta-protests/), delivered through the Consejo Superior de Deportes (the Spanish government’s autonomous agency for the promotion and development of sport), was sharp. It defended the right to protest as a constitutional guarantee and went further, framing it as a moral duty when human rights were at stake. Neutrality, the CSD argued, could not be invoked to shield atrocities: silence in the face of Gaza’s devastation amounted to complicity.
The response also carried a pointed reminder of Spain’s track record in organising global events, from Formula 1 and MotoGP to the upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup. More strikingly, it highlighted what the UCI had omitted, accusing the governing body of double standards for moving swiftly to sanction Russia in 2022 while avoiding direct criticism of Israel.