Security guard takes out protestor at Tour de France in wild scene

When a man began running down the course at the Tour de France in protest of an Israeli team’s participation Wednesday, a security guard pulled no punches.

The guard wrapped up the protester and shoved him against the wall separating the track from the viewing area, eventually tossing him over the wall, onto the ground and into a jam-packed crowd of fans. 

The shocking scene took place just 25 meters from the finish line as Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen edged out Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid for victory in the 11th stage of the three-week race.

The protester was wearing a shirt that said “Israel out of the Tour,” and he held a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered headdress that has become a symbol of solidarity for the Palestinian cause.

After the protester had been thrust onto the ground, the security guard yelled and pointed at him as the shocked crowd of fans looked on.

The protest was presumably directed at the Israel Premier-Tech team, which is registered in Israel, although it does not feature any Israeli bikers at this year’s event. 

In April, pro-Palestinian movement Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions dubbed Israel Premier-Tech “Team Genocide,” and called for “peaceful protests.”

“We call for more peaceful protests than ever along the routes of cycling races where Team Genocide is participating, including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España,” the organization wrote. “Let’s make sure the road is closed to genocide perpetrators.”

Members of the team also faced protests at the 2025 Amstel Gold Race in April and at the Giro d’Italia in May. 

Stage 11 of the Tour de France, which stretched 156.8 kilometers, took place in and around the Southern French city of Toulouse.

The prestigious race consists of 21 stages, with the event wrapping up at the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 27.