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During the recent Vuelta a Espana, the squad faced multiple disruptions as pro-Palestinian protesters staged actions regarding Israel's war in Gaza

Squad officials described the past few months as "a particularly challenging time" but acknowledged "the need for transformation"

"With steadfast dedication to our cyclists, team members, and important sponsors, the decision has been made to rebrand and restructure the squad, moving departing from its present Israel-linked branding"

"Within sports, advancement often demands sacrifice, and this step is crucial to ensuring the long-term viability of the organization"

Squad History and Structure

The Israel-Premier Tech squad, which includes five British riders including multiple Tour de France winner Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and controlled by Israeli-Canadian property tycoon Sylvan Adams

Initially founded as the Cycling Academy in 2014, the team has been sponsored by Canadian corporation Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Incidents and Protests

During the three-week Spanish tour, numerous demonstrations and disruptions took place, mainly focusing on the involvement of the cycling team

Midway during the competition, the team stopped displaying their complete team name on their cycling uniforms

The last leg of the tour around the Spanish capital was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting demonstrations that resulted in altercations with riders and obstructed the route in multiple places

Recent Developments

As part of the restructuring, squad proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his daily role and will no longer act on the team's behalf

This sixty-six-year-old entrepreneur has been closely associated with Benjamin Netanyahu's government and has previously referred to himself as a "unofficial representative to Israel"

Global Response

International professional cycling governing organization the UCI has declared it will continue to welcome Israeli athletes at its competitions despite demands for athletic boycotts

Following United Nations commission findings that declared Israel has performed mass killing against Palestinian people in the territory - a allegation that the government denies - there have been growing calls for the country to be suspended from global football tournaments

Background of Conflict

Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza in reaction to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were murdered and 251 others were taken hostage

Based on reports from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 67,139 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the territory since that time

Analysis: Corporate Image Factors

The choice represents a major admission by the team and its proprietor Sylvan Adams that the presence of Brand Israel is creating unease in places such as professional athletics

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

The team started primarily thanks to the owner's enthusiasm for cycling, and conviction that the sport can bring societies closer together in parts of the globe distant from its European traditional base

Despite some major cycling tour stage wins, the team has experienced the pace hard to maintain at points at the elite level, and cannot risk to lose sponsors such as Canadian pesticide experts Premier Tech

As a billionaire entrepreneur, Adams recognizes that corporate brand reputation is everything