The professional cycling team Israel Premier Tech announced Saturday that its riders will wear new jerseys for the remainder of the Vuelta a España following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests in Spain in recent days.
The team said that from Stage 14 until the race concludes in Madrid on September 14, riders will compete in special jerseys featuring a prominent Star of David on the front and back, but without the “Israel Premier Tech” inscription.
The team said the decision was made for security reasons. “Out of our full commitment to prioritize the safety of our riders and the entire peloton and given the dangerous nature of some of the protests at the Vuelta a España we have decided on this change,” the statement said.
Israel Premier Tech emphasized that the measure is temporary and that the team’s official name remains unchanged. The new jersey design closely resembles one previously used by the team in both support vehicles and unofficial apparel.
The team said the change is intended primarily to allow riders to move and race safely, especially when they are traveling alone outside the main race route.
On Thursday roughly 10,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered along the course during Stage 11. Organizers, concerned about conditions at the finish line, ended the stage early three kilometers before the finish. Earlier, Israeli rider Nadav Reisberger spoke at length about the hostility the team has faced since the start of the race, including incidents where protesters broke onto the course and blocked the riders’ path.
Despite the challenges the team received widespread support on social media. Race director Kiko García reportedly asked team leaders to consider withdrawing from the race to protect other participants’ safety, a suggestion that was immediately declined.
In an interview with ynet Israel Premier Tech CEO Ido Schvit said, “We are all here to compete, to finish, to reach Madrid, and to try to win a stage along the way. Professionally this has been a very good race, our results so far are very strong. We are all here to finish, and we will. We also have full support from the peloton. Yes, there are comments around, but not necessarily from riders or other teams. There are endless online comments, but the vast majority come to watch sport, to watch a sporting event, one of the biggest in the world, and that is what matters to them.”