The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team has officially announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Giro dell’Emilia race in Italy. The decision, confirmed by race organizers, stems from serious concerns regarding participant safety and security in the current political climate.
This withdrawal, announced on September 27, follows significant disruptions at another major cycling event, the Vuelta a España in Spain. During the Spanish race, pro-Palestinian protestors targeted the Israeli team, staging demonstrations along the race routes and reportedly causing damage to event infrastructure in Madrid. These protests aimed to pressure the Israeli cycling squad to withdraw from the competition. Ultimately, the final leg of the Vuelta a España was cancelled by organizers due to the high risks posed by the ongoing demonstrations, which threatened the safety of both participants and spectators. In the wake of these incidents, the Spanish Prime Minister even suggested that Israeli cycling teams and other sports entities should be barred from participating in various international sporting events.
Calls for Israel’s exclusion from international sporting competitions have intensified amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel’s continued military operations in the region have reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 66,000 Palestinian civilians, sparking widespread concern across Europe and globally. Over 100 member states of the United Nations have characterized Israel’s actions as genocide. Race organizers for the Giro dell’Emilia emphasized that the decision to withdraw the Israeli team from the Italian race this year was a mandatory measure taken to safeguard the well-being of all competing athletes and spectators. Adding to the escalating tensions, police officials in Milan reportedly clashed with pro-Palestinian protestors just last week.
These developments are not isolated to cycling. Recently, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced its intention to hold a vote among its members to determine whether Israel should be banned from its competitions. This move is a direct response to the continuous military actions in Gaza and the heightened political tensions in the region. Furthermore, the Turkish Football Federation has formally requested that both the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and UEFA impose sanctions, effectively prohibiting Israeli teams from participating in various international tournaments. Spain has been a prominent voice in this movement, having previously put pressure on FIFA and UEFA, even threatening to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup if Israel were allowed to participate.
