MADRID: Israel Premier Tech cycling team have been urged by their title sponsor to change their name in the face of pro-Palestinian protests.
Riders were targeted at the recent Spanish Vuelta, causing disruption to the Grand Tour event.
Spain’s government estimated that more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage when protesters criticized the presence of Israel Premier Tech.
In a statement reported by Radio Canada, Premier Tech said “the current situation regarding the team’s name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal.”
Premier Tech is a multinational company based in Quebec, Canada. It is the title sponsor of the cycling team co-owned by Israeli Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams.
The Spanish Vuelta, which concluded this month, turned into a diplomatic battleground. It was repeatedly disrupted by protesters against Israel Premier Tech, which midway through the race removed the team name from their uniforms after the team faced protests before and during the race days.
The team said that decision was “in the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at Vuelta.”
Yet protests persisted — culminating in the mass demonstration in Madrid, which meant the race had to be cut short by about 50 kilometers (30 miles).
Premier Tech’s stance comes after a report that bike manufacturer and technical partner Factor also raised doubts about its association with the team.
“Without a name change, without a flag change, we won’t continue,” company founder Rob Gitelis told Cycling News.
The protesters in Spain said their actions were aimed at denouncing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people.
It was launched after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Sponsor urges Israel Premier Tech cycling team to change their name in face of protests
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Sponsor urges Israel Premier Tech cycling team to change their name in face of protests
- Premier Tech said “the current situation regarding the team’s name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal”
- The Spanish Vuelta, which concluded this month, turned into a diplomatic battleground
UAE, Egypt share points as Jordan, Algeria and Iraq book Arab Cup quarter-final spots
- Arab Cup reaching the finale of the group stages as knockouts loom
DOHA: The UAE and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday to keep both sides’ progression hopes alive at the Arab Cup, while Jordan, Algeria and Iraq all secured their places in the quarter-finals.
Cosmin Olaroiu’s UAE side had the best chance of the opening half, with Mohamed Bassam producing a fine outstretched-leg save to deny Bruno from close range. They eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark through a flowing counter-attack from one end of the pitch to the other, Nicolas Jimenez squaring for Caio Lucas to sweep the ball past Bassam.
Egypt rescued a share of the spoils late on when Karim Eraky delivered an 85th-minute cross that Marwan Hamdy headed back across goal.
The Pharaohs thought they had snatched a winner moments later, but the effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up, leaving Egypt second in the group, a point clear of both the UAE and Kuwait.
Jordan became the latest team to book their place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Kuwait in Group C at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The World Cup 2026 qualifiers caught Kuwait off guard for the opening goal, taking a quick free-kick some 30 yards out for Mohannad Abu Taha to unleash a fierce strike beyond Sulaiman Abdulghafour.
Abdulghafour was tested repeatedly and beaten again early in the second half as Saed Al-Rosan converted from close range following another dangerous corner delivery from Mahmoud Mardi.
Kuwait set up a tense finale when substitute Yousef Nasser headed home from Eid Al-Rashidi’s cross, but Ali Olwan sealed the result deep into added time by converting a penalty after being brought down by the goalkeeper.
Defending champions Algeria underlined their title credentials with a commanding 5-1 win over Bahrain, with Qatar-based players playing a decisive role in all five goals.
Al-Wakrah’s Redouane Berkane opened the scoring before setting up Al-Duhail’s Adil Boulbina for the second, shortly after Bahrain had levelled during a frantic six-minute spell.
Berkane then won a penalty, converted by Yassine Benzia in first-half stoppage time, before scoring his second shortly after the restart.
Substitute Yacine Brahimi later teed up Boulbina for his second as Algeria completed a comfortable victory, maintaining an unbeaten start ahead of their group finale against Iraq on Tuesday.
Iraq also progressed to the last eight after withstanding heavy early pressure from Sudan before striking twice late on at Stadium 974.
After spending much of the first half on the back foot, Graham Arnold’s side took the lead when Player of the Match Mohanad Ali capitalised on a poor defensive header from a free-kick. Amjed Attwan then secured the win six minutes from time, sending the passionate Iraq support into raptures.
