Israel-Premier Tech remove team name from kit amid Vuelta protests

Israel-Premier Tech have removed the word ‘Israel’ from their team kit for the remainder of the Vuelta a España. The move comes amid repeated protests against their presence in the race due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza.

Stage 11 of the Vuelta to Bilbao was halted with 3km to go due to a human rights demonstration on the finishing straight on the Gran Vía. Israel-Premier Tech were previously delayed during the team time trial on stage 5 after protestors bearing Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Neutrality is Complicity. Boycott Israel” attempted to block the road.

“In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at @lavuelta, Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race,” read a statement from Israel-Premier Tech on Saturday.

“The team name remains Israel-Premier Tech, but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing.”

Team owner Sylvan Adams has rejected reports that the team would remove the word ‘Israel’ from its name next season. “Fake news. We will never ride without the name Israel,” Adams said in an interview with Israeli website Sport5 on Friday.

Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares has expressed support for Israel-Premier Tech’s removal from the Vuelta a España. “We cannot continue the relationship with Israel as if nothing is wrong,” Albares said in an interview with public-service broadcaster RNE. “We have to send a message to Israel, to Israeli society.”

On Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on social media in support of Israel-Premier Tech’s presence in the Vuelta: “Great job to Sylvan and Israel’s cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud!” 

Over 64,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza almost two years ago in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 700 people.