Cycling team Israel-Premier Tech faces sponsor ultimatum over name amid Gaza war protests

Title sponsor Premier Tech has threatened to withdraw from the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team unless 'Israel' is removed from its name, citing untenable pressure from pro-Palestinian protests disrupting races.

25 sept 2025 - 15:38 • 3 min read

The professional cycling team Israel-Premier Tech is facing significant pressure from its title sponsor, Premier Tech, to remove 'Israel' from its name, with the Canadian company stating the current situation is "no longer tenable". The ultimatum comes after pro-Palestinian protests disrupted the team's participation in this month's Vuelta a Espana Grand Tour in Spain, linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Premier Tech has indicated it could end its association with the team from next season unless a new identity and branding, excluding 'Israel', is adopted. The company acknowledged that the international situation has evolved significantly since the team's debut at the World Tour level in 2017.

"We expect the team to evolve towards a new name excluding 'Israel', leading to a new identity and branding for the team," Premier Tech said in a statement. "The outcome of these discussions will be decisive in determining whether Premier Tech maintains its commitment to the team moving forward."

The Israel-Premier Tech squad, which includes prominent British cyclist Chris Froome, is registered in Israel and owned by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. Adams, who has described himself as a "self-appointed ambassador to Israel," has close ties to the Israeli government.

Concerns have also been voiced by the team's British-based bike supplier, Factor. Its founder, Rob Gitelis, told Cycling News that the company would not continue its support "Without a name change, without a flag change."

During the Vuelta a Espana, the team had already removed the 'Israel' name from its jerseys. Protests led to interruptions, including an incident on stage five where riders were forced to stop to avoid colliding with protesters unfurling a banner. One of the team's notable riders, Canada's Derek Gee, cancelled his contract shortly before the event, citing "certain issues" that made his continuation "untenable," though he did not explicitly link his decision to the protests or the Gaza situation.

British cyclist Tom Pidcock expressed concern for riders, stating, "They're not riding to support Israel, they're riding because they got an opportunity to race bikes around the world."

The team was relegated from cycling's World Tour in 2022 but had ambitions to return in 2026 with strong backing. The ongoing conflict in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 65,419 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the territory since then.