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Throughout the recent Vuelta a Espana, the squad faced several interruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters organized protests against Israel's war in Gaza

Squad officials characterized the past few months as "a particularly challenging period" but recognized "the necessity for transformation"

"With strong dedication to our riders, team members, and important partners, the choice has been made to rebrand and re-brand the team, shifting departing from its current Israel-linked identity"

"In sport, advancement often demands sacrifice, and this step is crucial to ensuring the long-term viability of the organization"

Team History and Structure

Israel-Premier Tech team, which includes several UK cyclists among them multiple Tour de France champion Chris Froome, is registered in Israel and owned by Canadian-Israeli real estate billionaire Sylvan Adams

Originally established as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014, the team has been supported by Canada-based company Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Events and Protests

Throughout the three-week Vuelta, multiple demonstrations and interruptions occurred, mainly targeting the participation of the cycling team

Midway through the race, the team stopped using their complete name on their cycling uniforms

The last stage of the race around Madrid was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that resulted in scuffles with cyclists and obstructed the course in several places

Recent Developments

Within the restructuring, team owner Sylvan Adams will step back from his day-to-day responsibilities and will cease act on the team's behalf

The sixty-six-year-old businessman has been strongly associated with the Israeli administration and has formerly described himself as a "unofficial representative to the nation"

International Response

International cycling governing organization the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israeli athletes at its events despite calls for athletic sanctions

Following United Nations investigation findings that stated the nation has performed mass killing against Palestinian people in the territory - a claim that the government rejects - there have been increasing demands for the country to be suspended from global football competition

Context of Hostilities

The Israeli military launched a campaign in the Gaza Strip in reaction to the Hamas-organized attack on southern regions of Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 others were taken hostage

Based on reports from the region's Hamas-run health department, at least 67,139 individuals have been fatally injured in Israel's attacks in Gaza since that time

Perspective: Business Image Considerations

This choice represents a major acknowledgment by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the presence of Israeli branding is causing discomfort in places such as professional sport

The owner's engagement in Israeli politics is widely recognized, although not formally assigned

This team started largely thanks to Adams' enthusiasm for professional cycling, and belief that the activity can bring societies closer united in parts of the world away from its European traditional base

Despite several Grand Tour stage victories, the team has found the competition level hard going at times at the elite tier, and cannot afford to jeopardize financial backers such as Canada's pesticide specialists Premier Tech

As a multi-billionaire businessman, Adams recognizes that business image is everything