Category Sports News

One of cycling’s top teams has been urged by a title sponsor to change its name after riders were targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters during the Vuelta a Espana.

The Israel-Premier Tech team were at the centre of several disruptions during this month’s Grand Tour in Spain, as protests were staged over Israel’s war in Gaza.

Sponsor Premier Tech wants ‘Israel’ to be dropped from the team’s name, saying that the “current situation is no longer sustainable”.

The Canadian company could end its association from next season, and British-based bike manufacturer Factor has aired similar concerns.

“Without a name change, without a flag change, we won’t continue,” Factor’s founder Rob Gitelis told Cycling News.

Premier Tech told Radio Canada: “We are sensitive and attentive to the situation on the international scene, which has evolved considerably since our arrival on the World Tour in 2017.

“However, the current situation regarding the team name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal, which is the very reason for our involvement in cycling.”

The Israel-Premier Tech squad, which has five British riders who include four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and owned by Israeli-Canadian property billionaire Sylvan Adams.

The team said they are “currently in the planning phase for 2026 team branding and will communicate any potential changes in due course”.

Adams, 66, is closely associated with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and has previously told BBC Sport he is a “self-appointed ambassador to Israel”.

The team dropped the ‘Israel’ name from their jerseys during the Vuelta.

Pro-Palestinian protests resulted in the interruption of the team’s time trial on stage five, when four riders were forced to stop to avoid hitting protesters who were unfurling a banner.

One of the team’s best riders, Canada’s Derek Gee, cancelled his deal with the team just days before competing at the Vuelta, leading the team to seek legal advice and support from cycling’s world governing body the UCI over the contract agreement.

Gee, who had earlier been in negotiations to extend his contract, said in a statement that “certain issues simply made my continuation at the team untenable”, without explaining what those matters were or linking his decision to the Gaza situation.

Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who finished third at the Vuelta, said he worried about riders being targeted.

He said: “They’re not riding to support Israel, they’re riding because they got an opportunity to race bikes around the world.”

The team are part of cycling’s second ProTeam tier after being relegated from the World Tour in 2022, but they have big-money backers and are expected to return to the World Tour in 2026.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus is set to make his debut off the bench in Friday’s United Rugby Championship opener against the Dragons in Belfast (20:05 BST).

South African number eight Augustus joined the club after helping Northampton Saints reach last season’s Investec Champions Cup final.

With Augustus on the bench, David McCann starts in the back row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney.

In a strong starting line-up boasting nine Ireland internationals, James Hume wins his 100th cap in midfield alongside Stuart McCloskey.

Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder during Ireland’s Test win over Georgia in July, starts on the left wing with Zac Ward on the right.

Mike Lowry starts at full-back while Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak are paired in the half-backs.

Callum Reid, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole start in an experienced front row boasting 407 appearances, with captain Iain Henderson joined in the second row by Harry Sheridan.

In addition to Augustus, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton and Sam Crean – who joined Ulster in the summer after a loan spell last season – provide forwards cover on the bench.

Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Ben Carson are the backline replacements.

Ulster: Lowry; Ward, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Herring, O’Toole, Henderson (capt), Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann.

New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus is set to make his debut off the bench in Friday’s United Rugby Championship opener against the Dragons in Belfast (20:05 BST).

South African number eight Augustus joined the club after helping Northampton Saints reach last season’s Investec Champions Cup final.

With Augustus on the bench, David McCann starts in the back row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney.

In a strong starting line-up boasting nine Ireland internationals, James Hume wins his 100th cap in midfield alongside Stuart McCloskey.

Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder during Ireland’s Test win over Georgia in July, starts on the left wing with Zac Ward on the right.

Mike Lowry starts at full-back while Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak are paired in the half-backs.

Callum Reid, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole start in an experienced front row boasting 407 appearances, with captain Iain Henderson joined in the second row by Harry Sheridan.

In addition to Augustus, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton and Sam Crean – who joined Ulster in the summer after a loan spell last season – provide forwards cover on the bench.

Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Ben Carson are the backline replacements.

Ulster: Lowry; Ward, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Herring, O’Toole, Henderson (capt), Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann.

Cardiff City will not be afraid of Wrexham in their all-Welsh EFL Cup clash, according to Bluebirds forward Callum Robinson.

In the fourth round, Championship Wrexham and League One Bluebirds met for the first time in 21 years when they were drawn together.

Wrexham are a division higher than Cardiff, but that was before Robinson and his team-mates were expelled from the Championship and the Hollywood-owned north Wales club were promoted from League One.

However, the Republic of Ireland international is optimistic about his team’s chances after scoring one of Cardiff’s goals on Tuesday in their third-round victory over Burnley.

Robinson continued, “We’ll face a good challenge.” They have a sizable squad, are in the championship, and have recruited a lot of players. Fair play to them, they’ve risen to the top, and it’s obvious that you’ve earned it if you win the Championship.

Cardiff’s place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup was relegated to them on Tuesday after Burnley won the game 2-1 over Liverpool, their first defeat since 2012 when they lost in penalties to Liverpool.

The Bluebirds have also had a strong League One season debut, with victories over Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town following their impressive performances at Turf Moor.

They travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday, going fourth in the table after only one game so far.

According to head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, the cup match against Wrexham will draw a lot of attention, not least because of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the team’s infamous transition from the National League to Championship.

Barry-Murphy is more concerned about his team’s League One accomplishments now that Cardiff have six games to play at the Stok Cae Ras.

Even though it seems a lifetime away for us right now with bigger priorities looming on Saturday, “I imagine that’s great news for everyone involved,” he said.

I have a lot of friends who are members of the Wrexham squad, ” I know a lot of them.” Last year, I collaborated with Andy Cannon and Ollie Rathbone at Rochdale and Conor Coady at Leicester.

Cardiff City will not be afraid of Wrexham in their all-Welsh EFL Cup clash, according to Bluebirds forward Callum Robinson.

In the fourth round, Championship Wrexham and League One Bluebirds met for the first time in 21 years when they were drawn together.

Wrexham are a division higher than Cardiff, but that was before Robinson and his team-mates were expelled from the Championship and the Hollywood-owned north Wales club were promoted from League One.

However, the Republic of Ireland international is optimistic about his team’s chances after scoring one of Cardiff’s goals on Tuesday in their third-round victory over Burnley.

Robinson continued, “We’ll face a good challenge.” They have a sizable squad, are in the championship, and have recruited a lot of players. Fair play to them, they’ve risen to the top, and it’s obvious that you’ve earned it if you win the Championship.

Cardiff’s place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup was relegated to them on Tuesday after Burnley won the game 2-1 over Liverpool, their first defeat since 2012 when they lost in penalties to Liverpool.

The Bluebirds have also had a strong League One season debut, with victories over Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town following their impressive performances at Turf Moor.

They travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday, going fourth in the table after only one game so far.

According to head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, the cup match against Wrexham will draw a lot of attention, not least because of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the team’s infamous transition from the National League to Championship.

Barry-Murphy is more concerned about his team’s League One accomplishments now that Cardiff have six games to play at the Stok Cae Ras.

Even though it seems a lifetime away for us right now with bigger priorities looming on Saturday, “I imagine that’s great news for everyone involved,” he said.

I have a lot of friends who are members of the Wrexham squad, ” I know a lot of them.” Last year, I collaborated with Andy Cannon and Ollie Rathbone at Rochdale and Conor Coady at Leicester.

Joelinton describes seeing Newcastle United team-mate Lewis Miley “get stick” after a historic moment as troubling, but the Brazilian believes real supporters are firmly in the teenager’s side.

Miley made the decision to limit replies to an X post during his 50th first-team appearance for Newcastle over the weekend. Given that he is still young, it is understood that this was a precaution.

The 19-year-old produced a strong performance in his first Premier League start since February, drawing one goal against Bournemouth. However, a small minority of social media users still criticised him for his performance.

Fans have since sent messages of support for Miley’s actions on the social media platform, and captain Bruno Guimaraes praised his fellow midfielder as a “top player and guy.”

Joelinton praised Miley as a “great future in front of him” during Newcastle’s 4-1 win over Bradford City on Wednesday night.

Following the third-round tie in the Carabao Cup, Joelinton said, “It’s always difficult when you see your team-mate get stick.” “It’s been a difficult time for me here as well. I am aware of the situation.

“I am aware that the team and a young player have strong supporters.” On Sunday, he performed really well. Everyone needs to look in the mirror and improve, and the team needs to improve.

Miley praised Newcastle’s “amazing” “travelling support” on Sunday, saying he was proud to have reached the milestone for his boyhood club.

At the age of 17 years and 226 days, the midfielder set a number of records while leading a breakout campaign at Newcastle a few years ago. He also became the youngest player to contribute an assist to an English side.

Miley continued to have back- and foot injuries and has had to compete fiercely for a starting spot in front of fellow midfielders Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Sandro Tonali.

Miley, it must be said, did not start for Eddie Howe’s starting lineup for Bradford, but he did, in a way that speaks for himself.

The head coach of Newcastle said, “I thought Lewie was excellent. In part, I believe he helped us a lot during the initial phase. Joe and Bruno served as a springboard, really, to control that midfield area as he played some lovely little deft touches and short passes into it.