Italy’s storied Giro dell’Emilia, a race renowned for its punishing ascents of Bologna’s San Luca climb and rich cycling tradition, will be missing one expected contender this year—Israel-Premier Tech. In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the professional cycling world, race organizers have barred the team from the 110th edition of the classic, citing escalating safety concerns stemming from anticipated pro-Palestinian protests. The decision, announced just days before the September 27, 2025 race, follows a series of politically charged disruptions that have recently rocked the sport.
The exclusion comes in the wake of dramatic scenes at the 2025 Vuelta a España, where Israel-Premier Tech’s presence ignited widespread protests. Demonstrators repeatedly clashed with police, stages were shortened or neutralized, and the final stage in Madrid was ultimately canceled after activists stormed the finish circuit. Riders, including those from other teams, expressed fears for their safety as protesters ran onto the course, causing crashes and halting the action. The chaos made international headlines and left race organizers on edge about the prospect of a repeat at the Giro dell’Emilia.
Race director Adriano Amici didn’t mince words when explaining the rationale behind the team’s removal. “Unfortunately, Israel-Premier Tech will not be at the start of our race. We had to make this decision for reasons of public safety,” Amici told AFP. He elaborated further, noting, “The atmosphere is very tense; there was too much danger for the Israel-Premier Tech riders and the other riders. With our local circuit, which has to be completed five times, there are numerous opportunities to disrupt the race. It’s a decision I regret from a sporting perspective, but from a public safety perspective, I had no other choice.”
The Giro dell’Emilia, which traditionally winds from Mirandola through the Apennines before culminating in Bologna with its grueling San Luca circuit, is not just another race. It’s the opening act of Italy’s end-of-season classics, building anticipation for Il Lombardia, the year’s final Monument. The city of Bologna, with its large student population and strong tradition of left-wing activism, was expected to be a flashpoint for demonstrations. Local authorities had already called for Israel-Premier Tech’s exclusion, citing what they described as “serious crimes against the civilian population in the Gaza strip.” Roberta Li Calzi, Bologna’s sport councillor, remarked, “Given what is happening in Gaza it would have been hypocritical to consider the presence of a team linked to this [Israeli] government as insignificant.”
Protests in Italy have not been confined to cycling. In recent weeks, dockworkers in Genoa and Livorno blocked ports believed to be used for arms transfers to Israel, and mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations have swept across the country. Nationwide strikes disrupted schools and transportation, underscoring the depth of public sentiment. The anticipated arrival of the Global Sumud Flotilla—a convoy of 50 boats aiming to deliver aid to Gaza—has only heightened tensions, with dockworkers threatening further action should the flotilla be attacked.
For Israel-Premier Tech, the fallout has been swift and multifaceted. The team, funded primarily by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, has found itself at the center of a storm that extends far beyond the peloton. While the team is not officially state-owned, Adams has described himself as a “self-appointed ambassador-at-large for Israel,” and the squad has received funding from Israel’s tourism ministry. The controversy has even reached the team’s sponsors: both bike supplier Factor and title sponsor Premier Tech have gone public with their desire for a rebranding. Premier Tech stated the situation “is no longer sustainable” and expects the team “will evolve towards a new name that excludes the term Israel, and that it will adopt a new identity and brand image.” Factor CEO Rob Gitelis was blunt: “I’ve already told the team: Without a name change, without a flag change, we won’t continue. It’s not a matter of right or wrong any more. It’s become too controversial around our brand, and my responsibility is to my employees and my shareholders.”
Israel-Premier Tech responded to the exclusion with a mix of disappointment and frustration. “We find it extremely regrettable that threats of violence have disrupted our sport,” a spokesperson for the team told Reuters. “We wish the organisers a successful race.” The team’s stance echoes sentiments expressed during the Vuelta, when, despite mounting pressure, they refused to change their official name—though they did finish the race in kit omitting the word ‘Israel.’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed in with support, praising the riders and staff for “not giving in to hate and intimidation.” Team boss Sylvan Adams was even more defiant, stating they would “not surrender to terrorists” and would “never ride without the name Israel.”
The situation has sparked a broader debate within the sport about the intersection of politics and competition. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s world governing body, has taken a firm stance against politicizing the peloton. The body condemned the Spanish government’s support for the Vuelta protests, accusing officials of “exploiting sport for political purposes.” UCI president David Lappartient, speaking at the World Championships, reaffirmed, “Sport is not a tool for punishment. The IOC has confirmed our position. We are not a tool for sanctions; we are a tool in the service of an ideal of bringing people together with the unifying power of sport, with the aim of promoting peace. And peace does not come through exclusion.” Lappartient further emphasized, “Israeli athletes are welcome, just as Palestinian athletes are welcome when we host them at our competitions, just like all athletes from around the world. That is truly the power of the Olympic movement.”
Despite the UCI’s position, pressure is mounting from multiple sides. The O Gran Camiño stage race in Spain has already revoked Israel-Premier Tech’s invitation for next year. Looking ahead, the controversy casts a long shadow over the 2026 Tour de France, which is set to begin in Barcelona. Local authorities there have made it clear they do not want teams competing under the Israeli flag or name, echoing calls for neutrality similar to those imposed on Russian teams following the invasion of Ukraine. Barcelona’s sports councillor David Escudé stated, “We want the teams competing under the Israeli flag, in the same way as has happened with Russia, to stop competing under this flag.”
The UCI has pointed out the complexity of such decisions, referencing the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee due to the annexation of Ukrainian territories and the violation of the Olympic truce. Lappartient warned, “If we start excluding one team, next year it will be another, on another issue.” The governing body’s message is clear: exclusion undermines the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace.
As the peloton lines up in Bologna without Israel-Premier Tech, the cycling world finds itself at a crossroads. The tension between sporting ideals and political realities has never been more pronounced. For now, the Giro dell’Emilia will go on, but the debate over the role of politics in sport—and the future of teams like Israel-Premier Tech—shows no sign of fading from the headlines.
