despite upcoming name change, co-sponsor Premier Tech withdraws from Israel-Premier Tech team

While the Israeli team will change its name for next season, the Canadian group announced its withdrawal on Friday, specifying that it was “now unsustainable” for it to continue its role.

The Canadian group Premier Tech announced on Friday November 7 that it was withdrawing with immediate effect from the Israel Premier-Tech cycling team, judging “unsustainable” to continue to sponsor this training shaken by the mobilization of pro-Palestinian activists. “After multiple discussions with team management and consideration of all relevant circumstances, Premier Tech has made the decision to withdraw as co-title sponsor of the team, all with immediate effect”announced the group in a press release. The company has been a partner of the cycling team since 2022.

“While we have acknowledged the team's decision to continue under a new name for the 2026 season, the very reason for our engagement with it has been eclipsed to such an extent that it is now unsustainable for Premier Tech to continue in its role as team sponsor.”adds Premier Tech.

The IPT team has been shaken in recent months during several races by major pro-Palestinian protests denouncing its presence in the international peloton, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. These protests culminated during the last Tour of Spain, the last stage of which could not be completed in Madrid.

On October 6, the team announced that it would be changing its name for the next season, “deviating from his current Israeli identity”. She added that its owner, the controversial Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, would step back next season and “will no longer speak on behalf of the team”. At the end of September, Premier Tech as well as the team's equipment supplier, the Factor company, called for this name change, wanting the term “Israel” to be removed and the team to adopt a new brand image.