MADRID (AP) — More than 1,500 police officers have been deployed ahead of the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta in Madrid on Sunday as more pro-Palestinian protests were expected for the final stage of the three-week long cycling race.

The Grand Tour event turned into a diplomatic battleground and was largely disrupted by protesters against the presence of Israeli-owned team Premier Tech, which earlier in the race removed the team name from its uniforms.

Six of the last 10 days of racing were either cut short or interrupted , with more than 20 people detained by police. During one stage, a protester carrying a Palestine flag tried to run on to the road ahead of riders, causing two of them to crash. They continued but one of them had to eventually pull out of the race.

The route of

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