"Canadian company Premier Tech said on Friday it had broken off its sponsorship deal after the team was targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters at several races this year, with stages of the Vuelta a Espana grand tour in August and September disrupted by demonstrators before the race was abandoned by organisers. The sponsors removed their full name from riders' jerseys at the Vuelta."
"Although we took notice of the team's decision to change its name for the 2026 season, the core reason for Premier Tech to sponsor the team has been overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable for us to continue as a sponsor, the company added. We want to thank the team riders and staff for the four unforgettable seasons by their side, and to acknowledge their incredible accomplishments and professionalism, both on and off the road."
"After the Vuelta, the Canadian multinational Premier Tech called for the team to change its name to remove Israel and to adopt a new identity and brand image. The team, owned by Canadian-Israeli property developer Sylvan Adams, was created in 2014 by Ron Baron and Ran Margaliot and is based in Israel. It was also subject to isolated protests during the sport's other two main stage races: the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, and had been accused of sportswashing by pro-Palestine groups."
Premier Tech ended its co-title sponsorship of Israel-Premier Tech with immediate effect after the team faced multiple pro-Palestinian protests at major races. Demonstrators disrupted stages of the Vuelta a Espana, leading organisers to abandon the race, and sponsors removed their full name from riders' jerseys. The team faced isolated protests at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France and accusations of sportswashing. The team agreed to rebrand and remove its Israeli identity for the 2026 season, but Premier Tech said the sponsorship's core purpose had been overshadowed and thus became untenable, while thanking riders and staff.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]