Israel–Premier Tech will start again from scratch in 2026, after the end of both its Israeli connection and co-title sponsor Premier Tech. The Canadian company still wanted to stay in the sport and seemed to have found its new home with Alpecin–Deceuninck. But that deal now looks to be off the table: instead, Premier Tech has opted for a partnership at the third tier.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the team of the Roodhooft brothers hoped to benefit from the break-up of Israel–Premier Tech. A financial boost would have been very welcome for the squad of Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, but that looks unlikely now. Premier Tech has chosen a surprising route: it will team up with St Michel – Preference Home – Auber 93.The French outfit races at Continental level. There, the sponsor’s name will appear on the team’s jersey. “Partnering with Premier Tech marks a milestone for our team,” said General Manager Charlie Nerzic on Instagram. “Like us, the global Canadian company led by Jean Bélanger is committed to developing cycling in all its forms.”

“We share a common vision: an inclusive, integrated cycling ecosystem driven by talent diversity. We are pleased to welcome Premier Tech and pursue this shared ambition,” Next season, former WorldTour pros Thomas Champion (ex-Cofidis) and Simon Guglielmi (ex-Arkéa–B&B Hotels) will ride for the small French squad.

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Big changes for men’s and women’s teams

The arrival of Premier Tech will not change the team name: it will remain St Michel – Preference Home – Auber 93 in 2026. But the new sponsor will have a bigger impact on the women’s team of St Michel – Preference Home – Auber 93. That squad races at the second tier of the sport and took part in the Tour de France Femmes.

The team can now welcome three Canadian riders. Clara Emond and Simone Boilard arrive from EF Education – Oatly and Uno-X Mobility respectively, and the former brings a big name with her: classics specialist Alison Jackson, winner of Paris–Roubaix Femmes in 2023. This year, she was once again visible at the front, finishing fifth in the Hell of the North and seventh in the Amstel Gold Race.

“This opportunity fully aligns with the reasons why Premier Tech has been committed to cycling for over 30 years — building bridges across all levels of the sport and supporting the development of Québec and Canadian cyclists,” explained Jean Bélanger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Tech.