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Throughout last month's Spanish cycling tour, the squad experienced multiple disruptions as Palestinian-supporting protesters staged protests regarding Israel's war in the Gaza Strip

Squad officials characterized the past few months as "an incredibly difficult period" but recognized "the need for change"

"With strong dedication to our cyclists, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rebrand and re-brand the squad, moving away from its current Israeli branding"

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

Team History and Structure

Israel-Premier Tech team, which includes several UK cyclists including four-time French cycling tour champion Chris Froome, is registered in Israel and owned 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 Protests

Throughout the 21-day Spanish tour, numerous demonstrations and disruptions took place, mainly targeting the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech

Midway during the competition, the squad ceased displaying their full name on their cycling uniforms

The last leg of the race around Madrid was cancelled following pro-Palestinian demonstrations that caused scuffles with cyclists and obstructed the course in several places

Recent Developments

As part of the changes, team proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his day-to-day responsibilities and will no longer speak on the squad's behalf

This 66-year-old entrepreneur has been strongly linked with Benjamin Netanyahu's government and has formerly described himself as a "unofficial ambassador to Israel"

Global Response

International cycling regulatory body the UCI has stated it will persist to welcome Israeli competitors at its competitions despite calls for sporting boycotts

After United Nations commission conclusions that declared Israel has committed mass killing against Palestinians in Gaza - a allegation that the government denies - there have been increasing demands for the country to be suspended from global football competition

Background of Conflict

The Israeli defense forces initiated a campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7th 2023, during which about 1,200 individuals were killed and 251 others were captured

According to reports from the region's Hamas-run health department, at least 67,139 individuals have been fatally injured in Israel's military actions in Gaza since that time

Perspective: Corporate Image Factors

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

Adams' involvement in Israeli politics is well known, though not officially assigned

The squad started largely thanks to Adams' enthusiasm for cycling, and conviction that the sport can unite societies closer together in regions of the world distant from its European traditional base

Despite several Grand Tour stage victories, the team has found the pace hard going at points at the top tier, and is unable to afford to jeopardize financial backers such as Canadian agricultural chemical specialists Premier Tech

Being a multi-billionaire entrepreneur, Adams understands that business image is paramount