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Throughout the recent Vuelta a Espana, the team faced multiple interruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters organized actions against Israel's military campaign in Gaza

Team officials described the recent period as "a particularly difficult time" but acknowledged "the necessity for transformation"

"Having steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued sponsors, the decision has been made to rebrand and restructure the squad, shifting away from its present Israeli branding"

"Within sports, progress often demands compromise, and this step is crucial to securing the future of the team"

Squad History and Structure

Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features several British cyclists among them four-time French cycling tour champion Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and owned by Canadian-Israeli real estate billionaire Sylvan Adams

Originally founded as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014, the team has been supported by Canadian corporation Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Incidents and Protests

Throughout the three-week Spanish tour, multiple protests and interruptions took place, mainly focusing on the involvement of the cycling team

Halfway through the competition, the squad stopped using their complete name on their cycling uniforms

The last leg of the tour around the Spanish capital was called off following Palestinian-supporting protests that resulted in scuffles with cyclists and blocked the course in multiple locations

Recent Changes

Within the changes, team proprietor Sylvan Adams will step back from his daily responsibilities and will no longer speak on the team's behalf

The sixty-six-year-old entrepreneur has been closely associated with the Israeli government and has previously described himself as a "unofficial representative to the nation"

International Reaction

World professional cycling governing organization the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israeli athletes at its competitions despite demands for sporting sanctions

After United Nations commission findings that declared Israel has performed mass killing against Palestinians in Gaza - a claim that the government rejects - there have been increasing demands for the nation to be suspended from global football competition

Background of Conflict

Israeli military launched a campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-organized assault on southern regions of Israel on October 7th 2023, during which about 1,200 people were murdered and 251 additional people were captured

According to reports from the territory's Hamas-run health department, at least 67,139 individuals have been fatally injured in Israeli military actions in Gaza since that time

Perspective: Business Image Factors

This choice represents a major acknowledgment by the team and its owner Sylvan Adams that the presence of Brand Israel is creating discomfort in environments such as professional athletics

The owner's engagement in Israeli political affairs is widely recognized, though not officially designated

The squad started largely thanks to Adams' enthusiasm for cycling, and belief that the activity can unite communities closer united in parts of the world distant from its continental heartland

Despite some Grand Tour stage wins, Israel-Premier Tech has experienced the competition level hard to maintain at times at the top tier, and cannot afford to lose sponsors such as Canadian agricultural chemical specialists Premier Tech

Being a billionaire entrepreneur, Adams recognizes that business brand reputation is everything