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Throughout last month's Spanish cycling tour, the squad faced several interruptions as pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged actions against Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip

Team officials described the recent period as "a particularly difficult period" but recognized "the need for change"

"Having strong dedication to our riders, team members, and important sponsors, the decision has been made to rebrand and re-brand the squad, shifting departing from its current Israeli identity"

"In sport, advancement often demands compromise, and this step is crucial to ensuring the future of the team"

Team Background and Structure

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

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

Recent Incidents and Demonstrations

During the 21-day Spanish tour, numerous protests and disruptions occurred, primarily focusing on the involvement of the Israel-Premier Tech

Halfway through the race, the team stopped displaying their full team name on their jerseys

The final leg of the race around the Spanish capital was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that caused altercations with riders and obstructed the course in multiple locations

Recent Developments

Within the restructuring, team owner 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 closely linked with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and has formerly referred to himself as a "unofficial representative to Israel"

Global Reaction

International cycling regulatory organization the UCI has stated it will persist to welcome Israeli competitors at its events despite calls for athletic boycotts

Following UN investigation findings that stated Israel has committed mass killing against Palestinians in Gaza - a claim that Israel rejects - there have been growing demands for the nation to be banned from international football tournaments

Context of Conflict

Israeli military launched a campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern the country on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 individuals were killed and 251 additional people were taken hostage

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

Perspective: Business Branding Considerations

This decision constitutes a major admission by the squad and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Israeli branding is causing unease in places such as professional athletics

The owner's engagement in Israeli political affairs is well known, though not officially assigned

The team began primarily due to Adams' passion for cycling, and belief that the activity can bring communities closer united in parts of the globe away from its European traditional base

Regardless of some major cycling tour stage wins, the team has experienced the pace hard to maintain at times at the top level, and is unable to risk to lose sponsors such as Canada's pesticide experts Premier Tech

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