PARIS, France — Canadian company Premier Tech said Friday that it was severing its sponsorship deal with Israel PT cycling following protests against the team’s participation in races amid the war in Gaza.
Israel-Premier Tech was targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters at several races this year, with stages of the Vuelta a España grand tour in August and September disrupted by demonstrators.
The team, owned by Canadian-Israeli property developer Sylvan Adams, was also subject to isolated protests during the sport’s other two main stage races: the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
After the Vuelta, the Canadian multi-national Premier Tech called for the team to change its name to remove the “Israel” and to adopt a new identity and brand image. The team agreed to move away from an “Israeli identity.”
On Friday, Premier Tech decided to withdraw altogether.
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“After multiple discussions with the team and careful assessment of all relevant circumstances, Premier Tech has decided to step down as co-title sponsor of the team taking effect immediately,” a company statement said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) shakes hands with philanthropist Sylvan Adams at the cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on November 2, 2025. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
“The core reason for Premier Tech to sponsor the team has been overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable for us to continue as a sponsor,” it added.
In October, Adams stepped back from his day-to-day involvement with the team and no longer speaks on its behalf. Although the team is privately owned rather than state-run, Adams had dubbed himself an unofficial ambassador for Israel.
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee said in October that the team was seeking millions of euros in damages from him after he left them due to his “personal-belief standpoint.”
The team joined the World Tour elite level of road racing ahead of the 2020 season and in July that year recruited four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
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