MADRID, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A mass protest against Israel's ongoing military action in Gaza on Wednesday led to modifications in the plans for the 11th stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

The peaceful demonstration, which was organized along the finish line in Bilbao, prompted race organizers to cancel the final sprint for safety reasons. Consequently, the stage concluded without an official winner, with times instead being recorded three kilometers from the finish for the overall classification.

This 157-kilometer circuit that began and ended in Bilbao features seven categorized climbs with virtually no flat terrain.

The stage was ripe for a breakaway, which materialized through Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Mikel Landa (Soudal-Quick-Step). However, Landa began to suffer from back pain, likely linked to his severe fall in the Giro d'Italia in May.

Overall leader Jona Vingegaard (Team Visma), and several teammates closed the gap in the final kilometers. On the last climb, a steep two-kilometer ascent of the Alto de Pike, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) launched a fierce attack on Vingegaard, who struggled to keep pace with the Paris 2024 Mountain bike gold medalist.

Pidcock and Vingegaard reached the three-kilometer mark together, about 10 seconds ahead of a chasing group that included Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG). ■