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During the recent Vuelta a Espana, the squad faced several disruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters staged protests against the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip

Squad representatives characterized the past few months as "a particularly difficult time" but acknowledged "the necessity for change"

"With steadfast dedication to our cyclists, staff, and valued partners, the choice has been made to rebrand and restructure the team, shifting away from its present Israel-linked identity"

"In sport, progress often requires compromise, and this step is crucial to ensuring the future of the team"

Squad Background and Structure

Israel-Premier Tech team, which includes five UK cyclists including multiple French cycling tour champion Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and owned by Israeli-Canadian property billionaire Sylvan Adams

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

Recent Incidents and Protests

During the three-week Spanish tour, numerous demonstrations and interruptions occurred, mainly focusing on the involvement of the Israel-Premier Tech

Halfway through the competition, the team stopped using their full team name on their jerseys

The last leg of the race around the Spanish capital was cancelled following pro-Palestinian demonstrations that resulted in altercations with riders and obstructed the course in several places

Recent Developments

As part of the changes, team proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his daily responsibilities and will no longer speak on the squad's behalf

The sixty-six-year-old businessman has been closely associated with Benjamin Netanyahu's government and has previously referred to himself as a "unofficial ambassador to Israel"

International Reaction

International professional cycling governing organization the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israel-based competitors at its competitions despite calls for athletic boycotts

After United Nations investigation findings that declared the nation has committed mass killing against Palestinian people in Gaza - a claim that the government rejects - there have been growing calls for the nation to be banned from global football tournaments

Background of Conflict

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

Based on reports from the territory's Hamas-controlled health ministry, at least 67,139 individuals have been fatally injured in Israeli attacks in the territory since that time

Perspective: Business Branding Factors

This choice represents a significant acknowledgment by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Brand Israel is creating unease in environments such as elite athletics

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

The squad began primarily due to Adams' enthusiasm for cycling, and belief that the sport can bring societies more together in regions of the world away from its European heartland

Despite some Grand Tour leg victories, Israel-Premier Tech has experienced the competition level hard going at times at the elite tier, and cannot risk to lose sponsors such as Canadian pesticide specialists Premier Tech

As a billionaire entrepreneur, Adams understands that corporate image is paramount