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During last month's Spanish cycling tour, the squad faced several interruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters staged protests against Israel's war in the Gaza Strip

Squad officials described the recent period as "a particularly difficult time" but acknowledged "the necessity for change"

"With strong dedication to our cyclists, team members, and valued sponsors, the choice has been made to rename and re-brand the team, moving away from its current Israel-linked branding"

"Within sports, progress often demands compromise, and this step is crucial to ensuring the future of the team"

Squad Background and Structure

The Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features several UK cyclists including four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and controlled by Canadian-Israeli real estate tycoon Sylvan Adams

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

Recent Events and Protests

During the three-week Spanish tour, numerous protests and disruptions took place, mainly focusing on the involvement of the Israel-Premier Tech

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

The last stage of the tour around Madrid was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that caused scuffles with riders and blocked the route in multiple locations

Recent Developments

Within the changes, team owner Sylvan Adams will step back from his daily role and will no longer speak on the team's representation

This 66-year-old entrepreneur has been strongly linked with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and has previously described himself as a "unofficial ambassador to the nation"

Global Response

World cycling governing organization the UCI has stated it will persist to accept Israel-based competitors at its competitions despite demands for athletic boycotts

Following UN commission conclusions that stated the nation has performed genocide against Palestinian people in the territory - a allegation that Israel rejects - there have been growing demands for the nation to be banned from global football tournaments

Context of Hostilities

Israeli military launched a operation in Gaza in reaction to the Hamas-led assault on southern regions of Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 others were taken hostage

According to data from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 67,139 individuals have been killed in Israeli military actions in Gaza since then

Perspective: Corporate Image Considerations

The choice represents a significant admission by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the presence of Israeli branding is causing unease in places such as elite sport

Adams' involvement in Israel's political affairs is well known, though not officially designated

This squad began primarily thanks to Adams' enthusiasm for professional cycling, and conviction that the activity can unite communities more united in parts of the world distant from its European heartland

Regardless of some major cycling tour leg victories, the team has found the competition level hard going at points at the elite tier, and is unable to risk to lose financial backers such as Canadian pesticide experts Premier Tech

Being a billionaire businessman, Adams understands that business image is everything