Israel-Premier Tech Cycling Team Name Change
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
From the 2026 season, the Israel-Premier Tech Cycling Team are to drop Israel from their name.
During last month's Vuelta a Espana, the Team were at the centre of several pro-Palestinian protests regarding Israel's war in Gaza which led to the abandonment of the event.
The Team has recognised the need for change and acknowledged that the past few months have been "an incredibly difficult period".
And added:
"With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and re-brand the team, moving away from its current Israeli identity. In sport, progress often requires sacrifice, and this step is essential to securing the future of the team."
The Israel-Premier Tech squad, whose five British riders include the four-time Tour de France champion, Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and owned by Israeli Canadian property billionaire Sylvan Adams.
Adams, who is 66 years old and closely aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu's government, will step back from his day-to-day role, as part of these changes, and will no longer be the spokesman for the Team.
It was founded as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014 and has been sponsored by the Canadian company Premier Tech since 2022.
UCI , the World Governing Body of Cycling, stated that it will continue to welcome Israeli athletes at its competitions, despite calls for sporting boycotts.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep politics out of sport!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
