A cyclist from Israel Premier Tech runs in front of a group of Protestant Protestants in the Tour of Portugal 2025.
Photo: EFE – TIAGO PETINGA
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The cycling team Israel–Premier Techwhich in recent weeks was the Center for Protestinas – especially during the last return to Spain – announced Monday in a statement that will change its name to get away from its “Israeli identity.”
“The decision to rename and restructure the team has been made, moving away from its current Israeli identity,” said Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams In the statement.
The text also indicates that Adams, until now mainly responsible for the project, will leave its operational functions to focus on its role as president of the World Jewish Congress.
The document highlights that the measure seeks “Ensure the future of the team” After months of tension and protests, and that the change of name and image will enter into force for the 2026 season. The announcement of the new denomination will be given in the coming weeks.
What happened to Spain 2025?
The Back to Spain 2025 It was marked by a series of Protective protests directed against team participation Israel–Premier Techwhich caused the interruption of several stages and the final cancellation of the last day.
The 11.ª EAPAdisputed September 3 between Bilbao y Bilbaowas arrested in the absence of three kilometers by a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people and in rejection of the presence of the Israeli team. He did not declare winner and the official times were taken three kilometers from the goal.
The 13.ª EAPAhe September 5it was also briefly interrupted when a group of protesters invaded the road near the port of Angliru. The Civil guardian He intervened quickly and the competition resumed a few minutes later.
In the 16.ª EAPAdisputed between POIO AND MOSTRO DE HERVILLEthe organization decided to modify the end of the race and stop the chronometers to Eight kilometers of the goal due to a protest that blocked the road. The Colombian cyclist Egan Bernalof the team INEOS Grenadiershe took the victory after imposing himself in the main getaway.
The most serious situation was presented at the 21st and final stagescheduled for the September 14 in Madridwhere a mass protest forced the organization to completely cancel the day and suspend the awards ceremonyafter protesters invaded the route and demolished part of the security fences.
Manifestations, made in solidarity with the Palestine causegenerated a broad debate on the participation of teams linked to countries in conflict and on the role of sport against political and social pressure.
Excluded for “security reasons”
The protests, with less intensity, were later repeated in other races and some, such as the Giro de Emiliaplayed on Sunday, directly excluded this training “For public security reasons.”
The Premier Tech group, Copatrocator of the team, and the company that supplies the bicycles to the corridors, He claimed the name change and that the term “Israel” disappeared to continue sponsoring training.
The protests are framed in the context of the war carried out by the Israeli Army in Gaza In response to attacks Hamas of October 7, 2023 in which 1,219 people died on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to a balance elaborated by AFP from official data.
In that same unprecedented attack, Islamist militiamen kidnapped 251 people in Israeli territory, of which 47 remain captive in Gaza and the Israeli army declared that 25 are dead.
In response, an Israeli retaliation offensive has caused at least 67,000 dead in Gazamostly civilians, according to the figures of the Ministry of Health of Hamas, considered reliable by the UN.
The UN has declared the famine in a part of Gaza and its researchers claim that Israel commits a genocide in the Palestinian territoryaccusations rejected by Israel.
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