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Throughout the recent Vuelta a Espana, the team experienced multiple disruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters organized actions against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza

Squad representatives characterized the recent period as "a particularly challenging period" but acknowledged "the need for change"

"Having strong dedication to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the choice has been made to rename and re-brand the team, moving away from its present Israeli identity"

"Within sports, progress often requires compromise, and this step is essential to securing the future of the team"

Team History and Composition

Israel-Premier Tech team, which includes five British riders among them four-time French cycling tour champion Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and controlled by Israeli-Canadian property tycoon Sylvan Adams

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

Recent Incidents and Protests

During the three-week Vuelta, multiple demonstrations and disruptions took place, mainly focusing on the participation of the cycling team

Midway during the race, the team stopped using their full name on their jerseys

The last stage of the tour around the Spanish capital was cancelled following pro-Palestinian protests that caused altercations with riders and blocked the route in several locations

Recent Changes

As part of the restructuring, team proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his day-to-day role and will no longer act on the team's behalf

This sixty-six-year-old businessman has been strongly linked with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and has previously referred to himself as a "self-appointed representative to Israel"

International Response

World cycling regulatory body the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israeli athletes at its competitions despite calls for athletic sanctions

After UN commission conclusions that declared the nation has performed genocide against Palestinians in the territory - a claim that Israel rejects - there have been growing calls for the country to be banned from global soccer competition

Background of Hostilities

Israeli defense forces initiated a campaign in Gaza in reaction to the Hamas-organized attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 others were taken hostage

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

Perspective: Corporate Branding Factors

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

Adams' involvement in Israel's political affairs is well known, though not formally assigned

This squad started largely thanks to the owner's enthusiasm for cycling, and conviction that the activity can bring communities closer together in parts of the globe away from its European heartland

Despite some Grand Tour stage wins, the team has experienced the competition level challenging to maintain at times at the elite tier, and cannot afford to lose financial backers such as Canadian agricultural chemical specialists Premier Tech

As a billionaire businessman, Adams recognizes that business image is paramount