Israel Premier-Tech has confirmed they will undergo a rebrand “away from its current Israeli identity” after multiple pro-Palestine protests were directed at the cycling team this season.
As part of the identity change, co-owner Sylvan Adams — who refers to himself as the “self appointed ambassador at large for the state of Israel” — will also step back from his day-to-day involvement and “will no longer speak on behalf of the team”. The move was called for a fortnight ago by title sponsor Premier Tech, who described their situation with the team as “no longer tenable” while their bike sponsor Factor also told Cyclingnews that “without a name change, they won’t continue”.
“The team’s owners and management have recognized the need for change,” an IPT statement read on Monday.
“With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and rebrand the team, moving away from its current Israeli identity. In sport, progress often requires sacrifice, and this step is essential to securing the future of the team.
“Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Sylvan Adams has chosen to step back from his day-to-day involvement and will no longer speak on behalf of the team, instead focusing on his role as President of the World Jewish Congress, Israel.”
The cycling team, while not state-owned, has been the subject of multiple pro-Palestine protests this season, causing widespread disruption and three stages to be neutralised in the Vuelta a Espana due to safety concerns. IPT removed ‘Israel’ from their team’s jerseys during the three-week race due to rider-safety concerns but it did not prevent the final stage finish and winners’ ceremony from being cancelled later on for the same reasons.
After the events of the Vuelta, the team had their invitation to participate in Saturday’s Giro dell’Emilia withdrawn by organisers and ahead of pro-Palestine protests in Italy — which drew more than one million people, per Reuters — the team then dropped out of three other cycling races in the country this month (Coppa Bernocchi, Tre Valli Varesine, Gran Piemonte).
The team statement said that their new identity “will be revealed soon” but “the team will remain true to its founding promise: to develop cycling talent from around the world”.
IPT competed in Croatia’s Cro Race last week, and are set to return to Italy for the prestigious one-day monument Il Lombardia on October 11.
The full statement read: “Eleven years ago, the Cycling Academy team was founded with a vision of nurturing young talent from non-traditional cycling countries, including Israel, providing aspiring riders with a clear pathway to professional cycling.
“Over the past 11 years, the team, which evolved to Israel – Premier Tech four years ago, has experienced the highs and lows that come with professional sport, from the pure joy of seeing our riders win Tour de France stages to the challenge of relegation, and fighting back to the WorldTour. It is, and always has been, a sporting project.
“The team takes pride in its achievements on the road, but even more so in the culture it has built within. This culture has been the foundation that enabled the team to overcome the challenges of recent months, standing firmly behind our riders and staff during an incredibly difficult period. Throughout this time, the team’s owners and management have recognized the need for change.
“With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and rebrand the team, moving away from its current Israeli identity. In sport, progress often requires sacrifice, and this step is essential to securing the future of the team.
“Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Sylvan Adams has chosen to step back from his day-to-day involvement and will no longer speak on behalf of the team, instead focusing on his role as President of the World Jewish Congress, Israel.
“Although a new chapter awaits, one that will be revealed soon, the team will remain true to its founding promise: to develop cycling talent from around the world.
“To our fans: thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years, and especially during these past few weeks. We look forward to continuing this journey together.”
(Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)