Israel-Premier Tech will complete the rest of the Vuelta wearing a new kit. The word 'Israel' will no longer appear on this kit. The team announced via social media that they are doing this out of concern for the safety of their riders and the rest of the peloton. However, they are retaining the team name Israel-Premier Tech, despite earlier rumors.
The situation around Israel-Premier Tech in the Vuelta has been very tense for several days. There is a lot of criticism regarding Israel-Premier Tech's participation in the Tour of Spain, both from within the peloton and certainly from outside it as well. This has increasingly raised questions about whether the situation is still safe for both Israel-Premier Tech’s riders and the rest of the peloton. The team decided to stay in the Vuelta but now sees the need to take additional security measures.
The team stated on social media that they will no longer race in the Vuelta with 'Israel' on their kit. "For the safety of our riders and the rest of the peloton and due to the dangerous protests, we have chosen to send our riders out in a 'monogram-branded kit.' The team name remains Israel-Premier Tech," the team emphasized.
Earlier today, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also responded to the situation. He offered the team his support and condemned the 'hate and intimidation' directed at Israel-Premier Tech. Before the start of the fourteenth stage, protests against Israel-Premier Tech’s participation were held again. However, the protest remained peaceful.
