The Israel Premier Tech cycling team announced that their uniforms will not have their team's inscription, but feature a Star of David at the center of the jersey, for the remainder of the Vuelta a España, an annual multi-stage road cycling race held in Spain.
The decision was made due to the dangerous nature of protests at the sporting event, the Israeli team said in a post on X/Twitter.
"Israel – Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race. The team name remains Israel – Premier Tech, but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing," the account wrote.
Calling for better security
The Israel-Premier Tech team was also stopped on the road by a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags during last week's team time trial in Figueres.
The Professional Cyclists' Association (CPA) had called for improved security at the Vuelta after several incidents involving protesters raised concerns over rider safety, with the Israel-Premier Tech team the main target.
After Wednesday's incident, the team said they remained committed to continuing the race and respected everyone's "right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton."
Organizers of the Spanish tournament had pressured the Israeli team, owned by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, to withdraw from the competition, which they refused to do, according to AFP News.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in response on Friday, congratulating "Sylvan and Israel's cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud!"