As the peloton races through the dramatic final week of La Vuelta a España, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team finds itself at the center of a storm that’s as much about politics as it is about pedals. In a move that’s sent ripples through the cycling world, the team has removed the word “Israel” from its riders’ jerseys for the remainder of the Spanish grand tour, responding to a surge of pro-Palestinian protests that have grown in both size and intensity over the past week.
The decision, announced on September 6, 2025, comes after a tumultuous stretch for the squad. Protests have erupted at multiple stages of the race, with demonstrators targeting the team due to its perceived associations with Israeli politics and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel-Premier Tech, owned by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, has long insisted it has no formal ties to the Israeli government. Yet Adams’ outspoken support for Israel and self-described role as a “self-appointed ambassador-at-large for Israel” have made the team a lightning rod for activists.
“In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at La Vuelta, Israel – Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race,” the team stated on its social media accounts early Saturday. The new blue uniforms, which will be used throughout the final week, now feature only a large “P” and a star—subtle nods to the team’s identity—while the word “Israel” has been removed from both the jersey and the right leg of the shorts. The team logo, based on the Star of David, remains but has been repositioned to the right-hand side of the chest, and the Premier Tech logo has shifted upwards alongside it.
This isn’t the first time Israel-Premier Tech has adapted its branding for security reasons. Last season, the squad quietly stripped “Israel” from its vehicles and issued plain training gear to riders, hoping to reduce the risk of confrontation during travel and warm-ups. But the scale and intensity of this year’s protests have forced even more visible changes.
The pressure on the team reached a boiling point on September 3 in Bilbao, the Basque capital, where thousands of demonstrators lined the finish straight. The crowd’s sheer size and fervor forced organizers to end the stage three kilometers early, with no winner declared—a rare and dramatic move in the world of professional cycling. According to race officials, the safety of both riders and spectators was paramount. The Vuelta’s technical director, Kiko Garcia, even urged the team to withdraw from the race or for the UCI, cycling’s governing body, to intervene, warning that their continued presence risked further unrest. The UCI also condemned the protest in Bilbao.
Just a day earlier, the dangers of the situation became all too real when Intermarche-Wanty rider Simone Petilli was injured after protesters blocked the road. Earlier in the race, activists interrupted the opening team time trial, and on September 5, another group of demonstrators disrupted stage 13 at the foot of the iconic Angliru climb, delaying the breakaway and prompting swift action from Spanish police, who detained 12 protestors carrying a pro-Palestinian banner.
Despite the uniform change, the protests have not abated. In Avilés, the host city for the 14th stage, a few hundred demonstrators packed the streets, waving Palestinian flags and holding signs reading “Sport with human rights.” Chants of “It’s not a war, it’s genocide” echoed through the air as police clashed with some protestors in tense shoving matches. The crowd’s anger was palpable, and their message clear—many in Spain, including segments of the government, are deeply critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties since October 2023’s Hamas attacks.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, weighed in on September 4, stating he would “understand and be in favor” of the team being removed from the race, though he acknowledged that the government lacks the authority to enforce such a decision. The Vuelta itself has condemned the disruptions, but organizers face an uphill battle balancing freedom of expression, safety, and the integrity of the competition.
For Israel-Premier Tech, the decision to keep racing under a modified kit is fraught with symbolism. The team remains determined to finish La Vuelta, with officials insisting there are no plans to drop the country’s name from the official title, despite rumors of a broader rebrand. “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,” the squad clarified in its statement.
Some voices within the sport, and beyond, have called for Israel-Premier Tech to withdraw entirely to avoid further escalation. The team, however, has countered that dropping out would “set a dangerous precedent,” suggesting that yielding to protest pressure could threaten the future participation of teams with controversial sponsors or national identities.
Support for the team has come from the highest levels of Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his backing, declaring that the squad “made Israel proud.” Owner Sylvan Adams, meanwhile, remains steadfast in his mission to use sport as a platform for positive representation, even as he acknowledges the risks involved. The team’s lone Israeli rider at the Vuelta has kept a low profile, while American Matthew Riccitello currently sits seventh overall, nearly five minutes behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard—a reminder that, amid the political firestorm, the sporting contest continues apace.
As the race enters its decisive stages, the question lingers: can the focus return to the drama on the road, or will the off-bike controversies continue to overshadow the action? For now, the peloton rides on—its most scrutinized team in new colors, but with the same determination to reach Madrid.
With protests showing no sign of abating and the world watching closely, Israel-Premier Tech’s journey through La Vuelta remains a powerful intersection of sport, politics, and the global conversation on human rights. As the finish line approaches, all eyes are on the team, the organizers, and the fans—wondering what the next stage will bring.
