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Throughout last month's Spanish cycling tour, the squad experienced several disruptions as Palestinian-supporting protesters staged protests against Israel's war in Gaza

Squad officials characterized the past few months as "an incredibly difficult time" but acknowledged "the need for change"

"Having steadfast dedication to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rebrand and re-brand the team, moving departing from its current Israel-linked identity"

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

Squad History and Composition

The Israel-Premier Tech squad, which features five British cyclists among them four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, is registered in Israel and owned by Canadian-Israeli real estate billionaire Sylvan Adams

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

Recent Incidents and Protests

During the 21-day Spanish tour, numerous demonstrations and disruptions took place, primarily targeting the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech

Halfway through the competition, the team ceased using their complete name on their cycling uniforms

The final stage of the tour around Madrid was cancelled following Palestinian-supporting protests that caused altercations with cyclists and blocked the course in multiple places

Recent Developments

Within the restructuring, squad proprietor Sylvan Adams will withdraw from his daily responsibilities and will cease act on the squad's representation

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

International Reaction

World professional cycling regulatory organization the UCI has declared it will persist to accept Israel-based athletes at its events despite calls for athletic boycotts

After UN investigation conclusions that declared the nation has performed mass killing against Palestinians in Gaza - a claim that Israel denies - there have been growing demands for the nation to be banned from international football competition

Context of Hostilities

The Israeli military launched a campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas-organized attack on southern regions of Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 individuals were murdered and 251 additional people were captured

According to reports from the territory's Hamas-controlled health ministry, at least 67,139 people have been fatally injured in Israel's military actions in the territory since that time

Analysis: Business Image Considerations

This choice represents a significant admission by the team and its owner Sylvan Adams that the inclusion of Brand Israel is causing unease in environments such as elite sport

Adams' involvement in Israel's political affairs is widely recognized, though not officially assigned

This squad started largely due to the owner's enthusiasm for cycling, and belief that the activity can unite communities closer together in regions of the world away from its continental heartland

Regardless of some major cycling tour leg wins, the team has found the competition level hard going at times at the top tier, and cannot risk to lose financial backers such as Canada's pesticide experts Premier Tech

As a multi-billionaire entrepreneur, Adams recognizes that business brand reputation is paramount