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During the recent Vuelta a Espana, the squad faced several disruptions as Palestinian-supporting demonstrators organized actions regarding the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip

Squad officials described the past few months as "an incredibly challenging time" but recognized "the necessity for transformation"

"With strong commitment to our cyclists, team members, and valued partners, the choice has been made to rebrand and re-brand the squad, shifting away from its present Israeli branding"

"In sport, progress often requires compromise, and this measure is essential to securing the future of the organization"

Team Background and Composition

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

Originally founded as the Cycling Academy in 2014, the team has been supported by Canada-based company Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Events and Demonstrations

Throughout the three-week Spanish tour, numerous protests and disruptions occurred, primarily focusing on the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech

Halfway during the race, the team stopped displaying their complete name on their jerseys

The last leg of the race around the Spanish capital was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that caused altercations with cyclists and obstructed the route in multiple places

Recent Developments

As part of the changes, squad owner Sylvan Adams will step back from his daily responsibilities and will cease act on the team's representation

This sixty-six-year-old businessman has been closely associated with the Israeli administration and has formerly described himself as a "unofficial representative to the nation"

Global Reaction

World cycling regulatory body the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israel-based athletes at its competitions despite demands for athletic sanctions

After UN investigation findings that stated Israel has committed mass killing against Palestinians in the territory - a allegation that the government denies - there have been growing calls for the country to be suspended from international football tournaments

Context of Conflict

Israeli military launched a operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern regions of Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 additional people were captured

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

Perspective: Corporate Image Considerations

This choice constitutes a significant acknowledgment by the team and its owner Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Brand Israel is causing discomfort in environments such as professional sport

Adams' involvement in Israel's politics is widely recognized, although not officially designated

This squad started primarily thanks to Adams' passion for professional cycling, and belief that the activity can unite communities more together in regions of the globe away from its continental heartland

Regardless of several major cycling tour leg victories, the team has experienced the competition level hard to maintain at times at the top tier, and cannot afford to jeopardize sponsors such as Canada's agricultural chemical experts Premier Tech

Being a multi-billionaire businessman, Adams understands that business brand reputation is everything