Pier-Andre Cote from the Israel Premier Tech team rides during the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Team Israel Premier Tech rider Guillaume Boivin of Montreal raises his trophy as the top ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, Friday, September 8, 2023 in Quebec City. Boivin placed 41st. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Pier-Andre Cote from the Israel Premier Tech team rides during the eleventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Bilbao to Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
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Team Israel Premier Tech rider Guillaume Boivin of Montreal raises his trophy as the top ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, Friday, September 8, 2023 in Quebec City. Boivin placed 41st. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Palestinian and Jewish Unity, or PAJU, urged the city on Monday to exclude the squad, whose ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø-Israeli co-owner, Sylvan Adams, has described the riders as ambassadors for Israel. The team has since referred to itself as simply a “professional cycling team†in response to protests.Â
In its letter to the city, PAJU’s lawyers said it would be “highly harmful and inexplicable†for Israel-Premier Tech to compete in the publicly funded event. The letter cites Israeli human rights groups that have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
The group, made up of Jews, Palestinians and other ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs, said the City of Montreal — a public partner of the race — “exposes itself to a real risk of complicity and whitewashing of these crimes through sport, commonly known as ‘sportswashing.’â€
PAJU’s lawyers gave the city until Tuesday at 4 p.m. to remove Israel-Premier Tech from the participation list.
“If we do not receive written confirmation of the team’s exclusion … we are mandated to initiate, on behalf of our client, any legal recourse deemed appropriate, without further notice or delay,†the letter read.
Asked about the demand, a spokesperson for Israel-Premier Tech said: “No response needed on our end.â€
A Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal spokesperson said the race organizers would not comment, while the City of Montreal and the UCI World Tour did not respond to requests by Monday afternoon.
The demand follows recent calls in Spain for the team to withdraw from the Vuelta a España after a series of disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters during the three-week Grand Tour race.
Spain’s foreign minister also said he would support expelling Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta.
The Vuelta protests prompted Israel-Premier Tech to change its riders' uniforms at the race.
"In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at the Vuelta a España, Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race," the team said in a statement Saturday. "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."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his support for the team on Friday.
“Great job to Sylvan and Israel's cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud!†Netanyahu said in a social media post.
Other ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø riders on the IPT roster include Michael Woods, Hugo Houle, Guillaume Boivin, Riley Pickrell and Derek Gee, who is currently in a contract dispute with the team. Former ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø star Steve Bauer is the team’s sporting manager.
The team's title sponsor, Premier Tech, is based in Rivière-du-Loup, Que.
PAJU said it had not issued the same demand to Quebec City.
Since the most recent Gaza war began in October 2023, pro-Palestinian protests have regularly taken place in Montreal, most notably a months-long encampment at McGill University’s downtown campus last year.
The Grand Prix also comes amid ongoing friction in Quebec over Muslim prayers during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including outside Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica. On Aug. 28, the provincial government said it would move to ban prayer in public places.
Meanwhile, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Olympic runner Moh Ahmed and hundreds of others have signed a letter urging Tennis Canada to cancel this weekend's Davis Cup tie with Israel in Halifax.
Tennis Canada said in August the Davis Cup tie would go ahead in Halifax under the International Tennis Federation’s competition structure.
"Tennis Canada acknowledges the ongoing and deeply complex situation in the Middle East," the organization said in a statement. "Our focus remains on ensuring a safe, fair, and professional competition for all athletes, staff, volunteers and spectators."
— With a file from Neil Davidson in Toronto.
This report by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was first published Sept. 8, 2025.
