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During the recent Spanish cycling tour, the squad faced several disruptions as pro-Palestinian demonstrators organized protests regarding the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip

Team officials characterized the past few months as "an incredibly challenging period" but acknowledged "the necessity for change"

"Having strong commitment to our riders, staff, and important partners, the decision has been made to rebrand and restructure the team, moving away from its current Israel-linked branding"

"Within sports, progress often requires sacrifice, and this step is essential to securing the long-term viability of the organization"

Squad Background and Composition

Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features several UK riders among them four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, is registered in Israel and controlled by Israeli-Canadian real estate tycoon Sylvan Adams

Initially founded as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014, the organization has been sponsored by Canada-based corporation Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Incidents and Protests

Throughout the three-week Spanish tour, multiple protests and disruptions took place, mainly focusing on the involvement of the Israel-Premier Tech

Midway during the race, the team ceased using their complete team name on their cycling uniforms

The final leg of the race around the Spanish capital was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting demonstrations that caused altercations with cyclists and obstructed the route in several places

Recent Developments

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

The 66-year-old businessman has been strongly associated with the Israeli government and has previously described himself as a "self-appointed representative to Israel"

Global Reaction

International professional cycling regulatory organization the UCI has declared it will continue to accept Israeli competitors at its events despite demands for sporting sanctions

After UN commission findings that stated Israel has committed mass killing against Palestinians in Gaza - a allegation that the government denies - there have been increasing calls for the country to be banned from international soccer competition

Background of Hostilities

Israeli military initiated a operation in the Gaza Strip in reaction to the Hamas-led attack on southern regions of the country on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 others were taken hostage

Based on data from the territory's Hamas-run health department, at least 67,139 people have been killed in Israel's attacks in the territory since then

Perspective: Business Branding Factors

This choice constitutes a significant admission by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the presence of Israeli branding is causing discomfort in places such as elite athletics

Adams' engagement in Israel's politics is widely recognized, though not formally assigned

The squad started largely thanks to Adams' enthusiasm for cycling, and conviction that the sport can unite communities closer together in regions of the world distant from its continental traditional base

Regardless of several Grand Tour stage wins, the team has found the pace challenging to maintain at times at the top tier, and is unable to afford to lose sponsors such as Canadian pesticide experts Premier Tech

Being a billionaire entrepreneur, Adams recognizes that business image is paramount