Israel
Israeli-owned Tour de France team rebrands as backer Sylvan Adams steps back
The team was subject to aggressive protests at the Vuelta a España earlier this year
October 6, 2025 21:43
The team was subject to aggressive protests at the Vuelta a España earlier this year
October 6, 2025 21:43The Israeli-owned cycling team backed by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams is dropping its Israeli identity after aggressive protests and harassment at races since October 7.
Israel Premier Tech, whose new name has not yet been revealed, was founded in 2014 as Cycling Academy and became Israel’s first-ever professional cycling team, going on to compete in the Tour De France since 2020 and signing high-profile riders like Chris Froome.
But since the outbreak of war in Israel on October 7, the team found themselves subject to increasingly hostile protests and calls for a boycott.
In September, the prestigious Vuelta a Espana was brought to a halt by protesters in Bilbao, angry at the team’s inclusion in the race and several sponsors and bike manufacturers said they would no longer work for the team if its name was not changed.
An official statement from the team said: “With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and rebrand 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.”
Stepping back from the team, Sylvan Adams said in a statement that he could not represent a team that did not have Israel as part of its identity.
He said: “As an Israeli whose heart and blood are blue and white, as an immigrant who made Israel my home, as a patriot and Zionist who proudly calls himself ‘Israel’s self-appointed ambassador,’ I cannot, at this moment, continue to take an active part in a team that no longer bears the name Israel.
"I will instead devote myself even more deeply to my philanthropic activities in Israel and around the world. In my role as President of the World Jewish Congress in Israel, I will continue to fight to defend our right, as Jews, to live in peace, safety, and freedom from the wave of hatred, violence, and antisemitism that has surged since the tragic events of October 7. I call on our incredible community of fans and supporters in Israel and around the world to continue standing behind the team — and especially behind our Israeli riders.”
In a statement, the Premier Tech team said that their new official name “will be revealed soon” and that the team would “remain true to its founding promise to develop cycling talent from around the world”.
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