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During last month's Vuelta a Espana, the team faced multiple interruptions as pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged actions regarding the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip

Squad officials characterized the past few months as "a particularly difficult time" but recognized "the need for transformation"

"With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued sponsors, the choice has been made to rename and re-brand the squad, shifting departing from its current Israel-linked identity"

"Within sports, advancement often requires sacrifice, and this step is crucial to ensuring the future of the team"

Team History and Composition

Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features five UK riders among them four-time French cycling tour winner Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and controlled by Israeli-Canadian property tycoon Sylvan Adams

Originally founded as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014, the organization has been sponsored by Canada-based corporation Premier Tech since 2022

Recent Events and Protests

Throughout the three-week Vuelta, multiple protests and interruptions took place, mainly targeting the participation of the cycling team

Midway during the competition, the team ceased using their complete name on their cycling uniforms

The last leg of the tour around Madrid was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that resulted in altercations with riders and blocked the course in multiple locations

Recent Developments

As part of the restructuring, team owner Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his day-to-day responsibilities and will cease act on the squad's behalf

This sixty-six-year-old businessman has been strongly linked with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and has formerly described himself as a "unofficial representative to the nation"

Global Reaction

International cycling regulatory body the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israeli athletes at its events despite calls for athletic sanctions

Following UN investigation conclusions that declared the nation has performed mass killing against Palestinians in the territory - a claim that the government denies - there have been growing calls for the nation to be banned from global football competition

Background of Hostilities

Israeli military initiated a operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 additional people were captured

According to reports from the region's Hamas-controlled health ministry, at least 67,139 individuals have been fatally injured in Israel's attacks in Gaza since then

Analysis: Corporate Image Factors

The choice constitutes a major acknowledgment by the squad and its owner Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Israeli branding is causing unease in places such as elite athletics

The owner's involvement in Israeli political affairs is well known, although not formally assigned

This team started largely thanks to the owner's passion for cycling, and belief that the activity can bring societies more together in regions of the globe distant from its European traditional base

Regardless of some Grand Tour leg wins, the team has found the pace challenging to maintain at points at the top tier, and is unable to risk to lose financial backers such as Canadian agricultural chemical specialists Premier Tech

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