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Throughout last month's Vuelta a Espana, the squad experienced several interruptions as Palestinian-supporting protesters staged protests regarding the Israeli war in Gaza

Squad officials characterized the recent period as "an incredibly difficult period" but recognized "the necessity for change"

"With strong dedication to our cyclists, team members, and important sponsors, the decision has been made to rename and restructure the team, shifting away from its current Israeli identity"

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

Team History and Composition

Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features several British riders among them four-time French cycling tour winner Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and controlled by Canadian-Israeli property billionaire Sylvan Adams

Initially established as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014, the organization has been sponsored by Canadian company Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Incidents and Protests

During the three-week Spanish tour, multiple demonstrations and interruptions occurred, mainly targeting the involvement of the cycling team

Midway through the race, the squad stopped displaying their full team name on their cycling uniforms

The last leg of the race around the Spanish capital was called off following Palestinian-supporting demonstrations that resulted in scuffles with cyclists and blocked the course in multiple places

Recent Changes

Within the changes, team proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his day-to-day responsibilities and will cease act on the squad's representation

This sixty-six-year-old businessman has been strongly associated with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and has previously described himself as a "unofficial ambassador to the nation"

Global Reaction

World professional cycling governing body the UCI has stated it will persist to welcome Israeli competitors at its events despite calls for athletic sanctions

After UN investigation conclusions that declared the nation has performed genocide against Palestinian people in Gaza - a claim that Israel denies - there have been increasing demands for the country to be banned from international soccer competition

Context of Hostilities

The Israeli defense forces initiated a operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-organized attack on southern regions of Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were captured

Based on data from the territory's Hamas-controlled health department, at least 67,139 individuals have been killed in Israel's military actions in the territory since that time

Analysis: Corporate Image Considerations

The decision constitutes a significant acknowledgment by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Israeli branding is creating discomfort in environments such as professional athletics

The owner's engagement in Israel's politics is widely recognized, though not formally assigned

The squad started largely thanks to the owner's passion for cycling, and conviction that the activity can bring communities closer united in parts of the globe distant from its European traditional base

Regardless of some Grand Tour stage victories, Israel-Premier Tech has found the pace hard going at times at the elite tier, and is unable to afford to jeopardize financial backers such as Canada's agricultural chemical specialists Premier Tech

As a multi-billionaire businessman, Adams understands that corporate image is paramount