City advocacy group advocates for exclusion of Israel's cycling squad from Montreal's Grand Prix event.
In the world of cycling, the Israel-Premier Tech team has been facing a series of protests, most notably at the Grand Prix de Montréal and the Vuelta a España. The team's association with Israel has sparked controversy, leading to calls for its exclusion from these events.
The Vuelta protests prompted Israel-Premier Tech to change its riders' uniforms at the race. The team, which includes Canadian riders Pier-André Côté, Michael Woods, Hugo Houle, Guillaume Boivin, Riley Pickrell, and Derek Gee, decided to issue riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the Vuelta a España race.
Spain's foreign minister has stated that he would support expelling Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta, citing the protests as a reason for concern. The Israel-Premier Tech team's Canadian-Israeli co-owner, Sylvan Adams, has described the riders as ambassadors for Israel, a statement that has further fueled the controversy.
The team name remains Israel-Premier Tech, but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions previously adopted for the team's vehicles and casual clothing. The title sponsor of Israel-Premier Tech, Premier Tech, is based in Rivière-du-Loup, Que. The team is also backed by Jean Bélanger, president and CEO of Premier Tech, and Kevin Ham, founder and CEO of Reinvent and Chit Chats Canada. Former Canadian star Steve Bauer serves as the team's sporting manager.
The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team has also faced controversy in Canada. Montreal-based group Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU) has asked Mayor Valérie Plante to bar the team from competing in the Grand Prix de Montréal on Sunday. The organization demanding that the city of Montreal exclude the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from the Grand Prix de Montréal on Sunday is the Palestinian Solidarity Network Montreal (PSNM).
Canadian Olympic runner Moh Ahmed and hundreds of others have signed a letter urging Tennis Canada to cancel the Davis Cup tie with Israel in Halifax. Derek Gee, a member of the Israel-Premier Tech team, is currently in a contract dispute with the team.
This report was first published on September 8, 2025, by The Canadian Press. The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team's journey through the Vuelta a España continues amidst the ongoing protests and calls for its exclusion.
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