In response to a series of pro-Palestine protests that led to violence and disruptions at the 2025 Vuelta a España, several World Tour cycling teams are considering refusing to race against Israel-Premier Tech (IPT). According to sources who spoke with The Guardian, rival teams are frustrated with IPT’s refusal to withdraw from the race and the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) perceived inaction.
The Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour of the year, was marked by protests that caused crashes, forced two riders to abandon the race, and led to changes in stage routes and the cancellation of podium ceremonies. The final stage was ultimately abandoned due to a large protest, and all planned celebrations were canceled.
Michal Kwiatkowski of Ineos Grenadiers publicly criticized the UCI, stating on social media that the situation was “very bad for cycling.” He warned that using cycling races as a platform for protest could become a trend if governing bodies fail to act.
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While some in the peloton believed IPT should have withdrawn, the team’s owner, Sylvan Adams, refused to do so. Adams said that giving in to the demands of the race organizer, ASO, would only encourage further protests against his team and potentially others. Adams stated: “They asked us to quit the Vuelta, but we did not surrender to the terrorists. I told them that they were wrong and that we had the right to stay.”
Adams’s decision was supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, according to Adams, the UCI. IPT has not commented on the possibility of other teams refusing to race against them in the future.
