Teams & Riders Israel Premier Tech

[Eddy Evenepoel]

If IPT backs down now and leave the race I see no other future than one where the team will be folding very soon, so makes sense that they want to stay and ride on.

I don’t think Adams will keep finding the team if he feels he’s being pressured to leave the Vuelta and to change the team name to be able to continue.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Eddy Evenepoel

One could i guess condemn the war in Palestine and distance himself from it? If that is out of the question, fine, but then the idea protestors will be less, whenever participating, that is rather naive. So ultimately whatever decision one takes the part on where it comes to the responsibility, that should be followed through too. As it's not like the pressure to do so will get any less. We'll see.

 

[hayneplane]

Hard to see the team having a future beyond the end of next season as attracting riders with a range of alternative options will be very difficult when you will be put under the spotlight as a rider for non sporting reasons.

 

[Gratemans]

AFAIK there was no public statement being made in terms of their support or being against the war in Palestine.

One could i guess condemn the war in Palestine and distance himself from it?

At this point I would urge you to look up what Adams has to say about the whole matter. Let's just say he has very clear opinion.

I also don't know if it's fair to shove all responsability towards the UCI. Unipublic and Spanish authorities are obviously better suited when it comes to risk assesment regarding the rest of the Vuelta. I'd say that if they say that it's too dangerous to continue, UCI could make IPT pull out of the race for security reasons.
But what about UCI points then? IPT are safe, so it wouldn't really hurt them this season but still, it wouldn't really be fair either. Ugh. When politics gets involved, it always becomes quite a mess.

 

[CyclistAbi]

UCI statement on the events that took place during La Vuelta Ciclista a España

www.uci.org

So that was quick. I read it as they don't plan to prevent IPT from participating in such events any time soon.

At this point I would urge you to look up what Adams has to say about the whole matter. Let's just say he has very clear opinion.

I assume the plan is to participate in cycling events in foreseeable future?

OK, fair enough. So where does that leave us. Organisers are left on their own, on where they have no power to exclude some team whilst protesters will likely only increase the pressure with time. So, bottom line, due to organiser not having any means to expel IPT or to stop protesters from escalating, likely such events will start to get cancelled, due to organiser not being able to provide sufficient safety.

Fine, that is a solution for now too. EBU and Eurovision AFAIK doesn't want to expel Israel either but will likely give their members the choice to not participate and avoid fines and similar. So ultimately and in EU sports and media events it looks like will tackle this in a way such events will simply get cancelled altogether.

 

[Sciatic]

As you say, it probably won't change much, but I wonder if they could get their neutral jerseys to Spain, and then just... refuse to wear those with 'Israel' on...

I don’t understand this. Most of the protestors will know the team is still participating so the protests will continue regardless of jersey labeling. When protestors held that big banner directly blocking the lead group (after the 2nd Vivero ascent I think?) they didn’t know whether an IPT rider was in that group or not.

 

[Sciatic]

what has changed from July to now? is the TDF that powerful so the people on the road don't protest? or maybe Spanish people are very different from French and Italian?

It seems clear to me that this is happening here and now because the race is in the Basque region, where fighting to maintain independence in the face of more powerful forces allied against them is part of the historical and cultural fabric there. Thus they are among the most likely to identify with and want to support Palestinian freedom. Similarly, when I was in Lithuania last summer almost every govt building was flying the Ukrainian flag next to the Lithuanian flag. They are not traditional allies but are linked by the struggle for independence from Russian domination.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Sciatic

It will only get worse with time.

 

[scribers]

It’s not clear at all this team is the issue. I’m leaning not. Meaning remove the team the speech will continue.

However, it’s high time cycling switches to a franchise based system with owners that are largely silent in terms of things like a promotion of a state, which is political by definition

 

[CyclistAbi]

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/only-one-solution-vuelta-organisers-call-upon-israel-premier-tech-to-make-decision-following-protests

I don't like it, on how the whole thing was put on organiser shoulders and then they tied the organiser hands to not being able to do anything. Anyway, if sufficient safety won't be possible to provide, then cancel the event, or some teams will start leaving anyway.

 

[red_flanders]

I would think race organizers would be under a moral and quite possibly legal obligation to protect the teams and riders at the race, rather than caving to protests and asking the team to solve the problem.

 

[pelotonIQ]

IPT are a Pro-conti team that isn't the #1 Pro-conti team, meaning the Vuelta organizers are not obliged to invite them, yet they did invite them. Vuelta organizers could have done the smart thing and not invite but they didnt think this through.

I want to add more context but I'm not allowed to post about politics and crimes.

 

[pastronef]

IPT are a Pro-conti team that isn't the #1 Pro-conti team, meaning the Vuelta organizers are not obliged to invite them, yet they did invite them. Vuelta organizers could have done the smart thing and not invite but they didnt think this through.

I want to add more context but I'm not allowed to post about politics and crimes.

no no no. they have guaranteed invitation because of their 2024 UCI points rank.

 

[RedheadDane]

I don’t understand this. Most of the protestors will know the team is still participating so the protests will continue regardless of jersey labeling. When protestors held that big banner directly blocking the lead group (after the 2nd Vivero ascent I think?) they didn’t know whether an IPT rider was in that group or not.

But it might send a message to the protestors of "We are also against what's happening."

 

[pelotonIQ]

no no no. they have guaranteed invitation because of their 2024 UCI points rank.

Isn't Lotto above them in points?

 

[pastronef]

Isn't Lotto above them in points?

the 2 highest pro-teams get the guaranteed wild cards. Lotto and Israel have them for 2025, thanks to 2024 UCI points.

 

[ingsve]

@Sciatic

It will only get worse with time.

Based on what? Short term I could see it happening a few more times since they did have an impact on the race and it got headlines but I don't really see the protesters being so dedicated to targeting a cycling team that they would follow the race from town to town and later on from country to country to continue disrupting races. This is more of an incidental thing rather than the start of anything prolonged in my opinion.

 

[yaco]

As for the responsibility:

Until UCI takes a stance on it, whatever that will be, things will remain rather moot. So foremost lions share of responsibility here is on UCI and their lack of engagement. They need to do their part first and other parties then to follow.

As for the protesters:

Protesters IMHO won't go away until IPT is participating in cycling events and IMHO organisers have no means to either expel the IPT or to stop the protesters. They can for example cancel the event altogether.

As for the IPT:

AFAIK there was no public statement being made in terms of their support or being against the war in Palestine. So if the stance is they support it, then obviously protesting, whenever they race, that will only escalate. If they would instead condemn the war in Palestine then IMHO IPT would be under less scrutiny, at least for now.

So all in all i see three options. IPT to condemn the war in Palestine, that would IMHO de-escalate protesting, or if for whatever reasons IPT doesn't want to condemn the war in Palestine, to leave the race and to not participate in future events, through duration of the war in Palastine or for UCI to expel teams associated with Israel till the end of war in Palestine, just like UCI has done when Russia invaded Ukraine.

I honestly don't see any other option and pretending things won't only escalate more if participation isn't prevented, that is IMHO irresponsible. If something serious happens hence objectively UCI is at fault here.

Nah. The UCI fall under the umbrella of the IOC. It is hard for sporting federations to act independently, BUT, once the IOC acts, then the the rest fall into line.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

As Europeans we always have our mouths full of having the right values and norms and we think the rest of the world should grow into our core values as well.

Now we have a genocide from a close western ally on our hands and all of a sudden we ourselves are not so decisive when it comes to these values. Our governments fail to act on behalf of humanity.

I am normally against demonstrating at the cost of society or at the cost of social/sports events. However if all else fails I can understand the need for people to feel they need to be heard in any way possible. Even though for me the protest yesterday cross a line because it is at the expense of other peoples safety.

In my opinion this is not a political statement but only a humanitarian statement.

Yes. The basques know what it is like to be carpet bombed by an oppressive power. Such protests were always going to happen in the region due to that humanitarian solidarity. With the organisers sending the race to basque region, with team IPT in the race, it was inevitabley going to create an potentially unsafe situation for the riders. Its difficult to see how Adams can guarantee safety of his riders unless he completely removes his presence and message from the team

 

[CyclistAbi]

Based on what? Short term I could see it happening a few more times since they did have an impact on the race and it got headlines but I don't really see the protesters being so dedicated to targeting a cycling team that they would follow the race from town to town and later on from country to country to continue disrupting races. This is more of an incidental thing rather than the start of anything prolonged in my opinion.

The level of protests is increasing and IMHO it will only get worse, based on the fact that the war in Palestine is nowhere near the end.

Nah. The UCI fall under the umbrella of the IOC. It is hard for sporting federations to act independently, BUT, once the IOC acts, then the the rest fall into line.

UCI statement on the events that took place during La Vuelta Ciclista a España

www.uci.org

It's not true that UCI hasn't taken a stance already. Currently they support participation of IPT in such events and hence organisers must deal with the rest. If something happens because of it hence UCI is already objectively responsible for such outcome and will share their part of the blame, they won't be able to pin it on IOC.

 

[pastronef]

will the team keep going in 2026? they'll really need an High-Road jersey, Adams to shut up and never be seen with the team, and Premiertech to up their budget. otherwise I don't see how the safety of the riders can be guaranteed. the Bilbao protests will spur other protester to go to races

 

[aruipksni]

Sylvan Adams Response:
"Listen, I'm pleased with a few things, very pleased. We finished the race safely. Our rider, Riccitello, crossed the finish line together with two of his teammates, so we didn’t lose time against our rivals. That was good. And most importantly, we got through the day safely, but we also received solidarity from the professional peloton, who decided to ride with us and send words of support. They don’t blame us for any of this at all."

"Unfortunately, this place probably has the biggest cycling fans in the world, the best fans there are. And it’s a shame that the finish was ruined because no winner was declared. They neutralized the race three kilometers before the finish. And the fans, the true fans, didn’t get to see a real race finish. They’re going home wondering what happened. In fact, they’re probably angry at the 'protesters.' But that’s how it is."

"Tomorrow is a new day, and we move forward. This is a Grand Tour, and we’ll keep going. I’m sure we’ll continue all the way to Madrid and finish this race. As I said, we received support from all the other teams and riders who don’t blame us for this situation. We cannot let the haters win; no sports team in the world would be safe if we let this happen. [deleted content]

the team official announcement:
"Israel Premier Tech is a professional team, and as such, it remains committed to the Vuelta a España. Any other course of action would set a dangerous precedent in the cycling industry, not only for us but for all teams. Israel Premier Tech has expressed its respect for the right to protest, as long as the protests remain peaceful and do not endanger the safety of the peloton."

 

[CyclistAbi]

[deleted content quoted, and a reply to it, removed]
Anyway, UCI will IMHO need to act, before peloton turns into some holly war. Organisers in my opinion are in no way equipped to deal with it, the stance that UCI is currently enforcing, beyond ultimately cancelling the events or for teams to start leaving due to felling unsafe. We'll see.

 

[yaco]

The level of protests is increasing and IMHO it will only get worse, based on the fact that the war in Palestine is nowhere near the end.

UCI statement on the events that took place during La Vuelta Ciclista a España

www.uci.org

It's not true that UCI hasn't taken a stance already. Currently they support participation of IPT in such events and hence organisers must deal with the rest. If something happens because of it hence UCI is already objectively responsible for such outcome and will share their part of the blame, they won't be able to pin it on IOC.

You fail to understand that if the IOC ban Israel from their events, then the other sporting federations will fall into line, like Russia. You often post without understanding the objective facts. The UCI or the organisers of the races cannot ban IPT because they have met the sporting criteria. All they can do is encourage them to leave or not attend arace.

 

[CyclistAbi]

You fail to understand that if the IOC ban Israel from their events, then the other sporting federations will fall into line, like Russia. You often post without understanding the objective facts. The UCI or the organisers of the races cannot ban IPT because they have met the sporting criteria. All they can do is encourage them to leave or not attend arace.

Of course they can, stop with this nonsense. On top of that they are represented in IOC.