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
https://arab.news/gc4pg
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
Da Costa claims first win with Jaguar in Jeddah E-Prix Round 5
- The Portuguese driver led home Sebastien Buemi, with reigning champion Oliver Rowland completing the podium
JEDDAH: Antonio Felix da Costa delivered a flawless performance to give Jaguar TCS Racing their first win of the 2026 season in Round 5 of the Jeddah E-Prix on Saturday.
The Portuguese driver led home Sebastien Buemi, with reigning champion Oliver Rowland completing the podium.
Da Costa was the first of the lead group to activate both of his mandatory 50kW all-wheel-drive Attack Mode boosts, using the strategy to pull clear of his rivals.
He held on to win by 2.5 seconds, marking his first victory for Jaguar and his first since Portland in 2024.
The race saw several lead changes as drivers battled in an energy-critical contest.
Buemi moved into second using an attack mode overlap to edge Rowland, who had also led early on. Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara, despite securing back-to-back pole positions, had to settle for fourth, adding strong points but leaving the team wishing for more.
Dan Ticktum narrowly beat teammate Pepe Marti to fifth, while Jaguar’s Mitch Evans finished seventh.
Round 4 winner Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche could only manage eighth, ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne in the Citroen and Taylor Barnard of DS Penske.
In the championship standings, Wehrlein leads Mortara by six points (68-62), with Rowland on 49. In the teams’ table, Porsche sits on 113 points to Jaguar’s 86, while in the Manufacturers’ World Championship, Porsche holds 143 points to Jaguar’s 124.
