Sponsor Withdraws from Chris Froome's Cycling Team
The primary sponsor of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, home to four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, has abruptly terminated its financial backing. The Canadian firm Premier Tech announced its decision to step down as co-title sponsor with immediate effect, despite the team's previous pledge to rebrand and distance itself from its Israeli identity.
Protests and Mounting Pressure
The team's participation in the Vuelta a España in September was consistently disrupted by protests. These demonstrations culminated in the cancellation of the final stage of the three-week race in Madrid. In the aftermath, further protests against Israel's war in Gaza were threatened at other European races, including next year's Tour de France Grand Départ in Barcelona. Rival teams even considered boycotting events where Israel-Premier Tech was scheduled to compete.
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had praised the team for not surrendering to what he called 'hate', the intense pressure led to a significant strategic shift. The team announced it was 'moving away from its Israeli identity' and withdrew from a series of autumn one-day races for security reasons. Other sponsors, including Factor Bikes, publicly called for changes to the team's identity.
Future Plans and Internal Fallout
Despite this major setback, the team is understood to be proceeding with its plans for the 2026 season, having previously stated that a rebrand was essential for its future survival. However, the internal impact has been severe. The squad's leading performer, Canadian rider Derek Gee, who placed fourth overall in this year's Giro d'Italia, cancelled his contract. Gee cited 'serious concerns' and stated that certain issues made his continuation with the team untenable.
The team's high-profile owner, Sylvan Adams, a self-described 'self-appointed ambassador to Israel' and confidant of Netanyahu, expressed his profound disappointment. When the rebrand was announced, Adams called it a 'very painful moment' in his life, stating he could not actively participate in a team that no longer bears the name Israel.
