Archive September 25, 2025

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.

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.