Teams & Riders Israel Premier Tech

[HashRouge]

Does anyone know if the State of Israel actually puts money into the team or is it all Adams's little vanity play? It's high time to make a public statement saying we are Premier Tech-Factor-whatever maybe Adams? and we are from Canada, eh?

I read on another thread that they do, yes. Even if they didn't, the problem is that Adams has always said that the team is designed to promote Israel - without specifically using the words "sports washing", he couldn't have made it any clearer that this is what he's doing.

 

[carolina]

I didn't know anything about Adams, but reading his wikipedia page, it's very obvious he has a relationship with the State of Israel. They might not put money directly into the team, but there is a clear influence on the team owner.

 

[Extinction]

As much as the protesters are making a political statement, so is Team Israel in remaining. I doubt the team is very popular in the peloton right now.

 

[Red Rick]

As much as the protesters are making a political statement, so is Team Israel in remaining. I doubt the team is very popular in the peloton right now.

Is it political for these guys to just go out and try to do their job?

 

[AmRacer]

Is it political for these guys to just go out and try to do their job?

The protesters think so.

 

[Red Rick]

The protesters think so.

Well let's just hand all the decision making to people who hate you.

Personally, when someone threatens to punch me I usually give them a blunt force weapon to make it more convenient for them.

 

[Rou]

Is it political for these guys to just go out and try to do their job?

Well, some of them were reportedly crying. I don't think they are doing their jobs with a lof of desire in this race currently. They are also forbidden to do interviews.
I would say they are 'pushed' to do their jobs.

 

[Samamba]

[content deleted]
Most of them do want to race, and others stayed in cause they want to help Riccitello, who deserves (just like any other rider in the peloton) to be able to do his job when he has prepared this for months.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

[quote deleted]
It's hard to respond to this without getting into politics. [deleted]

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Moderator hat on

Guys, please.

I can't help feeling that the only things that can be said in the current context that sits outside the politics of it is that, as cycling fans, we find curtailment of our entertainment and the sporting goals of competitors frustrating; making cyclists the victims of any political feelings unjustifed; the future of a sport vulnerable to public disorder troubling; and the hope that riders can compete with the only dangers to their safety or performance being those that are intrinsic to the sport paramount.
Plus, of course, the usual banter about the sport that we can enjoy in relation to any team and any race.

I understand the frustration (I am very firmly applying a gag on myself in regard to what I might otherwise say), but the subject matter that brought us to this forum up until the last few days should still be the subject matter here.

 

[Extinction]

Is it political for these guys to just go out and try to do their job?

Unless we want to turn a blind eye to all the circumstances in Spain surrounding "doing your job" in this moment, yes. You can also choose not to do your job of course. The unpleasant reality is that politics have entered this Vuelta, which I'm not going to discuss. However, recognizing it has is unavoidable. Let's what happens next.

 

[Red Rick]

Unless we want to turn a blind eye to all the circumstances surrounding "doing your job" in this moment, yes. You can also choose not to do your job of course.

What you advocate is just surrendering the meaning of any action to a different party

 

[Extinction]

What you advocate is just surrendering the meaning of any action to a different party

I'm not advocating anything, only taking into account the reality on the ground and the possible ramifications for the conclusion of this Vuelta it entails.

 

[Leadbelly]

No sign of Rusty Woods name on the start list (updated yesterday) for Quebec.

Obviously with no racing since the Tour (+ his age) it's unlikely he would be doing much results wise in either race, but maybe he could have been some help to Strong in the new finale on Friday and it would be a shame if he wasn't able to get two farewell races.

 

[ontheroad]

Is it political for these guys to just go out and try to do their job?

You're making the assumption that each of these riders are happy and willing to continue to race. My belief would be that there is pressure being put on them from management and from outside to not back down.

[content deleted]
The UCI need to seriously reevaluate the rules around nation state team ownership in the off season to avoid this reoccurring.

 

[Gratemans]

[content deleted] The UCI need to seriously reevaluate the rules around nation state team ownership in the off season to avoid this reoccurring.

This basically. I always found the concept weird in the first place back when it started.
I mean all large sports organisations can't keep their yap shut about how politics has no place in sports, yet they allow countries to sponsor teams ánd actually be in their name.

Anyway, I really hope we get to see this climb. Very curious about both the climb itself and the landscape. The way the steeper part is not at the end might result in some nice attacks. (Yes, I'm being overly optimistic here, if not naive. It'll probably be a sprint between Almeida and Vingo in the last 50 meters)

 

[Leadbelly]

No sign of Rusty Woods name on the start list (updated yesterday) for Quebec.

Obviously with no racing since the Tour (+ his age) it's unlikely he would be doing much results wise in either race, but maybe he could have been some help to Strong in the new finale on Friday and it would be a shame if he wasn't able to get two farewell races.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965807817723637969

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1965807817723637969


This explains his absence. Unfortunately this probably means he's already ridden his last race as the team afaik aren't down to ride any of the late season Italian races (Emilia, Lombardia etc).

Adios Rusty!

 

[Oldman]

As much as the protesters are making a political statement, so is Team Israel in remaining. I doubt the team is very popular in the peloton right now.

There have been protests at every Tour in memory from aggreived French working groups. Save for Hinault punching out a protestor the riders seem to take it in stride. If a protestor is successful in hurting a rider that will change things; possibly in a big way. There may be grumblers within the peloton but they'd best keep it to themselves. It's just a matter of time before your team sponsor or DS pisses off other competitors.

 

[aruipksni]

maybe riders will think twice where they accept a contract.

seems like Gee understands this now.

if only all those riders at UAE would also.

I'm really very sad to say, cause i love Gee, but Gee he has no honor and no dignity and he betrayed his team!

 

[aruipksni]

i would really love to see Riccitiello stay in this team, but even if he not, he already showed that he has the toughness and the will that is needed, and he has also honor and dignity.

 

[Red Rick]

i would really love to see Riccitiello stay in this team, but even if he not, he already showed that he has the "balls" Almeida spoke about, and he has honor and dignity.

The only one with the balls Almeida spoke about is Ciccone.

It's a real problem for Ciccone.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Moderator hat on

Guys, please.

I can't help feeling that the only things that can be said in the current context that sits outside the politics of it is that, as cycling fans, we find curtailment of our entertainment and the sporting goals of competitors frustrating; making cyclists the victims of any political feelings unjustifed; the future of a sport vulnerable to public disorder troubling; and the hope that riders can compete with the only dangers to their safety or performance being those that are intrinsic to the sport paramount.
Plus, of course, the usual banter about the sport that we can enjoy in relation to any team and any race.

I understand the frustration (I am very firmly applying a gag on myself in regard to what I might otherwise say), but the subject matter that brought us to this forum up until the last few days should still be the subject matter here.

The problem is that cyclists are public figures, and their work entails wearing uniforms that make them public representatives of the products and services that their teams exist to promote. And sometimes those products or services may be controversial and you're taking a calculated risk signing on the dotted line for said team. At the end of the day, it's not like Saxo Bank with CSC, or TotalEnergies with Ineos, where you sign with one sponsor and another joins the team mid-season so you're suddenly representing something completely different from what you signed up for. Adams has been very open about what his team is about from day one.

 

[Red Rick]

The problem is that cyclists are public figures, and their work entails wearing uniforms that make them public representatives of the products and services that their teams exist to promote. And sometimes those products or services may be controversial and you're taking a calculated risk signing on the dotted line for said team. At the end of the day, it's not like Saxo Bank with CSC, or TotalEnergies with Ineos, where you sign with one sponsor and another joins the team mid-season so you're suddenly representing something completely different from what you signed up for. Adams has been very open about what his team is about from day one.

The current issue isn't the same as it was even one year ago. Riders typically sign multi year contracts.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

By that stardard, many teams should get canceled, as they sportswash other countries, promote fossile fuels, gambling, or other reasons.

IPT is held to a different standard not because it's morally different but because public opinion is different.

It's not about it being a different standard. An Ineos rider should not be surprised if their team is targeted should a race be disrupted by environmental protesters, for example.

Protests have been disrupting IPT riders for at least a couple of years now, Simon Clarke was being targeted by protests at the Australian Nationals last year - and those protests were targeting him personally and specifically - and there have been multiple disruptions relating to the team over the past two years, so the riders shouldn't be all shocked Pikachu face by this point.

And as to the situation changing after contracts were signed, of the 8 riders for IPT in this Vuelta, Matthew Riccitello and Marco Frigo are the only ones who were on the squad prior to 2024.

 

[Danskebjerge]

The problem is that cyclists are public figures, and their work entails wearing uniforms that make them public representatives of the products and services that their teams exist to promote. And sometimes those products or services may be controversial and you're taking a calculated risk signing on the dotted line for said team. At the end of the day, it's not like Saxo Bank with CSC, or TotalEnergies with Ineos, where you sign with one sponsor and another joins the team mid-season so you're suddenly representing something completely different from what you signed up for. Adams has been very open about what his team is about from day one.

True, and I think it's worth noticing that pro cyclists are at the extreme of commercial sports.

At the other end we find athletes representing their country at, let's say, a world championship. There are a few sponsors, but nobody would doubt the fact that the relationship of these athletes to their team is defined by nationality much more than commercial interests (for example the national teams can't buy new riders/players).

In the middle, we have athletes representing a club - it could be a major European football club owned by a foreign investor, a big company. The foreign owner has big interests in the club and the players, but the players still primarily represent the club which has a quite well-defined geographical base.

The pro cyclist, on the other hand, is in a team that carries the name of a (multinational) company or organization. The rider is a living billboard - he is travelling around, saying to his surroundings "this product is really good - look at me, I'm a part of it". Now, if that product is controversial, this way of organizing athletes can backfire - especially if the teams start to have a political edge, such as promoting state-owned companies, or just carry the name of a country in the team's name.

Tbh, while I'm of course against unlawful actions, I do think cycling teams are a fair target for protests in certain political contexts. If the teams were called "Équipe Cycliste de Paris" or "London Bike Stars" or whatever, I would see it differently. I'd wish it was like this. Maybe some cycling historian will be able to tell me when and where it went "wrong".