Israel-Premier Tech Removes “Israel” from Jerseys

(MENAFN) The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team announced on Saturday that it has removed the word “Israel” from its jerseys for the remainder of the Spanish race La Vuelta, citing security concerns following repeated pro-Palestine demonstrations that disrupted the event.

On social media, the team explained that the choice was made “in the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests.”

This decision comes after several days of tension during the Spanish cycling competition.

Protests against the team’s participation forced Wednesday’s stage in Bilbao to conclude 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) early.

Then, on Friday, Spanish police employed batons to disperse demonstrators from the road in Asturias, delaying the race leaders by approximately 30 seconds.

The team also noted that the updated uniforms now correspond with its vehicles and casual apparel, which similarly avoid displaying the word “Israel.”

In a Friday interview with an Israeli news outlet, Sylvan Adams, the Canadian-Israeli billionaire co-owner of the team and a close supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the demonstrators in Spain’s Basque Country as terrorists.

The Amaury Sport Organization, which organizes La Vuelta, reportedly asked Israel-Premier Tech to contemplate withdrawing from the race, but Adams stated he declined.

“If we give up, it’s not just the end of our team, but of all the other teams,” he remarked.

MENAFN08092025000045017167ID1110030127