Spain's premier cycling race, La Vuelta, has been shaken by pro-Palestinian protests which riders believe have put them at risk and threaten to derail the event.

The demonstrations, fuelled by anger over Israel's military campaign in Gaza, have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team at each stage of this year's three-week race.

Demonstrators have lined roads with red, green, black and white Palestinian flags, protestors have attempted to lie in the road and, at times, forced riders to swerve or stop.

On Wednesday, organisers were forced to cut short the 11th stage in Bilbao -- the financial capital of Spain's northern Basque Country -- by three kilometres after clashes erupted between protesters and police near the finish line.

Many Basques see parallels between the Palestinian struggle

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