Israel Premier Tech has said its riders' lives have been at risk as protests aimed at them have worsened in recent weeks, with the team now deciding to drop 'Israel' from its name and assume a completely new identity.
As a result, its billionaire founder, Sylvan Adams, has said he is not willing to take an active part in the team due to breaking its link with Israel.
Confirming its plan to redefine itself, with a completely new identity - amid pressure from its own sponsors and race organisers - the team has claimed the pro-Palestine protests aimed at it have become so extreme its riders' lives were at risk.
It said the team "has been put in tangible danger in recent weeks following a wave of widespread pro-Palestinian protests that have escalated into violence and put their lives at risk".
Advertisement
"During the last Vuelta a España, activists broke onto the race courses and endangered the lives of the riders," the team said of the Spanish Grand Tour it refused to quit. "Since then, the situation has only worsened, and the team has been forced to withdraw from several races in Italy after it was not possible to guarantee the safety of the team’s riders."
The organisers of Giro dell’Emilia, which was promoted last Saturday, withdrew its invitation for the team to ride the event, saying the threat of protest was so high risk it was not safe for Israel Premier Tech to start. The team then confirmed it was withdrawing from other races in Italy, including Coppa Bernocchi, Tre Valli Varesine and Gran Piemonte.
In a statement Israel Premier Tech added it could no longer "protect its riders" and after "extensive consultations" by its owners, founders and senior management it was decided the team would change to a new "name and identity… which will no longer bear the name Israel".
Related News
"I cannot, at this time, continue to take an active part in a team that does not bear the name of Israel," Adams said. "I therefore step aside and suspend all active involvement with the team at this time. I intend to cease representing the team and will no longer speak on its behalf."
Instead, in his role as president of the 'World Jewish Congress in Israel' he would "fight to defend our right as Jews to live in peace, protected and free from the wave of hatred, violence and anti-Semitism that has risen against us" since the Hamas attack on Israel two years ago.
That October, 2023, attack - two years ago today - claimed the lives of about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages being taken. It has been followed by two years of bombing and other assaults by Israel on Gaza.
Last month the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said in its report “Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”.
“The Commission urges Israel and all States to fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible for it,” the statement issued by the United Nations added. The Israeli government rejected the report’s main finding, calling it “distorted and false”.
Israel Premier Tech has been under pressure from its sponsors to change the name and identity of the team. Its title sponsor, Canada-based Premier Tech, and bike sponsor, Factor, have both said the controversy around its brands could not continue after the team was targeted at the Vuelta.
Factor’s founder, Rob Giteli, said the company could not continue sponsoring the team unless it’s identity broke from Israel. Premier Tech also said it expected the team to change name and identity, adding “the current situation regarding the team name is no longer sustainable” for it.
Israel Premier Tech's owner, Adams, is an Israeli-Canadian. While Israel is not its headline sponsor, its identity has always included the country’s name and flag, though that was modified somewhat midway through the Vuelta.
