Israel-Premier Tech: Canadian rider facing £26m damages after terminating contract

Israel-Premier Tech has come under a lot of scrutiny since Gee’s decision to leave.

At La Vuelta, the team was the focus of pro-Palestinian protests that affected a wider audience. Cyclists crashed and were injured due to the actions of protesters; these included needles thrown onto the road causing numerous puncture wounds.

The final stage in Madrid was canceled after protesters stormed the course and turned into chaos with some riders being pushed off their bikes.

In the fifth stage, Israel-Premier Tech was targeted during the team time trial. Protesters crossed the road holding a banner, causing four of the eight cyclists to take evasive action and stop.

La Vuelta organizers even suggested that the team abandon the race for safety reasons. The name Israel was also removed from the team jersey during the race.

The team decided to rebrand without the Israel name after pressure from sponsors.

They were banned from the Giro dell’Emilia race last week due to security fears.

Israel-Premier Tech currently has five British riders in its squad. As well as Froome, there are also Jake Stewart, Ethan Vernon, Stevie Williams and Joseph Blackmore.

Israel started the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, in response to Hamas’ attacks. Approximately 1,200 people, most of them Israeli civilians, were killed in the attacks and 251 people were taken hostage.

Israeli military offensives have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians and more than 18,000 children, according to the region’s Hamas-run health ministry. Its figures are considered reliable by the United Nations and other international organizations. It destroyed much of the region and led to a devastating humanitarian crisis.