Israel–Premier Tech

File:Tour La Provence 2019 - Avignon - présentation des équipes - Israel Cycling Academy (2).jpg]]

In November 2014, Ron Baron and Ran Margaliot launched the Israel Cycling Academy (ICA), with the aim of providing an opportunity for young and talented cyclists to compete in the international arena and launch their professional careers. This team was intended to provide inspiration, hope and faith to future generations of Israelis.{{cite news|title=Gallery: Sagan helps launch first Israeli pro team|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-sagan-helps-launch-first-israeli-pro-team|access-date=9 May 2015|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=26 November 2014}} The team's first victory came in the fourth stage of the 2015 Tour d'Azerbaïdjan, won by Daniel Turek.{{cite web|title=Tour d'Azerbaïdjan 2015 – Stage 4|url=http://procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_d_Azerbaidjan_2015_Stage_4_Mingachevir|website=ProCyclingStats|access-date=9 May 2015}} On 2 July 2015, the Israeli Road Racing Champion Guy Sagiv joined the ranks of ICA.{{cite news|title=Twitter: Cycling Academy adds Guy Sagiv|url=https://twitter.com/bikeGEEEEKS/statuses/61662535119668428|work=twitter.com|date=2 July 2015|access-date=24 August 2015}}

In 2018, the team participated in a cycling monument event for the first time – 2018 Milan-San Remo, and in a grand tour for the first time – the 2018 Giro d'Italia. The Giro d’Italia opening stage took place in Jerusalem on 4 May 2018 – the first time in the Giro's 101 years of existence that it has started outside Europe. The Giro held its second and third stages in Israel before it continued onto European soil.

The three stages raced in Israel attracted considerable interest from the Israeli public, with many thousands of Israelis lining up along the route and supporting the riders and especially the ICA home team. It was considered a significant success. ICA co-owner Sylvan Adams was the driving force behind the Giro's "Big Start" in Israel, having financed a significant part of the race budget. ICA's best performance in the Giro was recorded in the 18th stage, when its Spanish rider Ruben Plaza finished in second place. Three days later when the team completed the Giro in Rome, Guy Sagiv became the first-ever Israeli cyclist to finish a grand tour.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2019, in its fifth season of existence, ICA enlarged its team roster to 30 riders and set up a racing program that has exceeded 250 racing days all around the globe. The team was invited to take part in the Giro d’Italia In May 2019 and will make its first appearance in the Tour of California. The team owners, Ron Baron and Sylvan Adams, have set the team's goal as participation in the world's biggest races including the Tour de France, in order to continue inspiring and developing a new generation of Israeli cyclists.

In January 2019 the team opened three cycling special youth programs in Israel and formed a youth cycling team in the Arab village of Shfaram. To further develop young Israeli cyclists, ICA operates a development team with a select group of under-23 riders. They have also established a special partnership with one of the leading French amateur teams – Côte d’Armor – which enables its young development team riders to race in France and gain valuable experience overseas.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In October 2019, {{UCI team code|ICA|2019|nolink=yes}} completed the takeover of UCI World Tour team Katusha-Alpecin, including its UCI WorldTour license. As a result, {{UCI team code|ICA|2019|nolink=yes}} was due to become a UCI World Tour team, pending UCI approval.{{cite news|title=Israel Cycling Academy complete Katusha-Alpecin takeover|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-cycling-academy-complete-katusha-alpecin-takeover/|access-date=2 October 2019|work=velonews.com|date=2 October 2019}} The UCI approved the team's promotion to World Tour status in December of that year, and the team subsequently changed its name to Israel Start-Up Nation, while the former name became the name of the team's continental level development squad.{{cite news|title=Israel Cycling Academy becomes Israel Start-Up Nation|url=https://www.velonews.com/2019/12/news/israel-cycling-academy-becomes-israel-start-up-nation_503110/|access-date=11 December 2019|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=11 December 2019}} In July 2020, it was announced that seven-time Grand Tour winner Chris Froome would join the team for the 2021 season.{{cite news|title=Israel Start-Up Nation confirms Chris Froome signing|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-start-up-nation-confirms-chris-froome-signing/|access-date=10 July 2020|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=9 July 2020}}

In August and September 2020, {{UCI team code|ISN|2020|nolink=yes}} took part in the 2020 Tour de France.{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Tour de France 2020|url=https://www.letour.fr/en/rankings|access-date=19 September 2020|work=Tour de France|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation}} On 11 October 2020, the team won a Grand Tour stage for the first time when British rider Alex Dowsett won Stage 8 of the 2020 Giro d'Italia.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-cycling-team-wins-first-ever-grand-tour-stage-in-italy/|title=Israel cycling team wins first-ever Grand Tour stage in Italy|publisher=Times of Israel|author= AFP and TOI STAFF|date=11 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020}} They won another Grand Tour stage 11 days later when Irish rider Dan Martin won Stage 3 of the 2020 Vuelta a España, a result that also took him up from third to second in the General classification; he eventually finished fourth in that classification.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2020/1022/1173297-dan-martin-wins-stage-3-of-the-vuelta-a-espana/|title=Dan Martin wins Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Espana|publisher=RTÉ|date=22 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020}}{{cite web|title=Official classifications of Vuelta a España 2020|url=https://www.lavuelta.es/en/rankings|access-date=22 October 2020|work=Vuelta a España|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation}} On 4 December 2020, the team announced Cherie Pridham as a new sports director, the first woman to assume the role on a men's World Tour team.{{Cite web|url=http://israelcyclingacademy.com/isns-sport-directors-line-up-2021-pridham-will-be-first-female-ds-in-worldtour/|title=Israel Start-Up Nation appoints Cherie Pridham, first female Sports Director on WorldTour|date=4 December 2020}}{{cite tweet|number=1334800910053232641|user=TeamIsraelSUN|title=Breaking Barriers: Cherie Pridham...|date=4 December 2020}}

In the 2021 Giro d'Italia in May, Italian rider Alessandro De Marchi briefly wore the maglia rosa as leader of the general classification after Stages 4 and 5, while Dan Martin won Stage 17 and finished tenth overall, and Davide Cimolai finished second in the Points classification. The team itself finished as one of three teams with no penalty points in the Fair Play classification. However, tie-breakers{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2014/download/Regolamento_Ing.pdf/|publisher=Giro d'Italia|title=Regulations|author=|year=2014|pages=19–20|access-date=31 March 2021|quote=C – «MULTIPOWER» FAIR PLAY PRIZE ... In the event of a tie, the separation for the placing is the ranking in the general classification of the team's best rider.|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128051948/https://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2014/download/Regolamento_Ing.pdf|url-status=dead}} meant that it finished third in the classification, as Dan Martin's tenth-place finish in the general classification was bettered by Tobias Foss finishing ninth for {{UCI team code|TJV|2021}} and by Damiano Caruso finishing second for {{UCI team code|TBV|2021}}.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

File:Israel Premier Tech - Tour de France 2023 A.jpg]]

Ahead of the 2022 season, the team announced that Canadian tech company Premier Tech would join as a co-title sponsor.{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-start-up-nation-and-premier-tech-join-forces/|title=Israel Start-Up Nation and Premier Tech join forces|first=Daniel|last=Benson|website=CyclingNews|publisher=Future plc|date=6 January 2022|access-date=7 January 2022}}

The season was largely disappointing for IPT, as they struggled for results and faced the threat of relegation from the UCI World Tour. Canadian rider Hugo Houle provided a moment of success with his maiden Tour de France and Grand Tour stage victory, after which an emotional Houle dedicated the win to his late brother.{{cite web |title=Hugo Houle dedicates Tour de France stage win to his late brother |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hugo-houle-dedicates-tour-de-france-stage-win-to-his-late-brother/ |website=cyclingnews.com |date=19 July 2022 |access-date=20 July 2022}} Australian rider Simon Clarke also claimed a stage victory during the race.

The team was relegated from the World Tour at the end of the 2022 season after finishing 20th in the points standings for the 2020 – 2022 qualification cycle. The top 18 teams qualified for the 2023 – 2025 cycle, meaning that from 2023 the team will drop down a division and race under a UCI ProTeam licence. Among non-World Tour teams, IPT finished third in the 2022 one-year points list behind {{UCI team code|LTB|2022}} and {{UCI team code|EUC|2022}}, meaning it also missed out on wildcards for 2023 World Tour stage races but would receive entries to all World Tour one-day events.{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-premier-tech-lotto-soudal-relegated-from-worldtour-uci-confirms/|title=Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto-Soudal relegated from WorldTour, UCI confirms|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=12 December 2022|access-date=25 December 2022}}

File:Avant Passage Étape 18 Tour France 2023 Avenue Bad Kreuznach - Bourg-en-Bresse (FR01) - 2023-07-20 - 15.jpg

However, the UCI subsequently announced that IPT would receive invitations to single-week World Tour stage races in 2023, a decision made due to "three years of significant upheaval due to the global pandemic".{{cite web | url=https://lanternerouge.com/2022/12/24/the-new-world-tour-points-and-relegation-system-explained/ | title=The New WorldTour Points System Explained | date=24 December 2022 }} IPT was awarded a wildcard entry to the 2023 Giro d'Italia after both Lotto-Dstny and Team TotalEnergies declined to take part{{cite web |last1=Ostanek |first1=Daniel |title=Israel-Premier Tech head to Giro d'Italia as 2023 wildcards are announced |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-premier-tech-head-to-giro-ditalia-as-2023-wildcards-are-announced/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=7 May 2023 |language=en |date=19 January 2023}} and was also invited to the 2023 Tour de France,{{cite web | url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-2023-wildcards-go-to-israel-premier-tech-and-uno-x/ | title=Tour de France 2023 wildcards go to Israel-Premier Tech and Uno-X | date=4 January 2023 }} meaning that with the exception of the Vuelta a España their 2023 race programme will be largely unaffected by their relegation.

On July 9, Michael Woods won stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France on a mountain day with a final steep climb to Puy de Dôme. This is Israel–Premier Tech’s third Tour de France victory, after two wins in 2022.

As a result of the Gaza war, Israel-Premier Tech and its team members have been subject to many disruptions by protestors. The Times of Israel said the team has been targeted because it "is a private initiative meant to boost Israel’s image worldwide." Adam, the Canadian founder of Israel - Premier Tech, has described the Gaza war as a contest between "good vs. evil and civilization against barbarism."

In 2024, Australian pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted local athlete Simon Clarke during his National Championships race because of his affiliation with an Israel team.{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/activists-in-australia-rush-bike-race-to-protest-israeli-team-cyclist/ | title=Activists in Australia rush bike race to protest Israeli team cyclist | website=timesofisrael.com | date=9 January 2024}} Demonstrators carried a banner reading “Israel – Premier Tech not welcome” and chanted criticism that "Simon Clarke serves an apartheid regime." Israel-Premier Tech responded "We are the only professional sports team in the world that includes Israel as part of its name, and we will continue to do so and proudly represent the country."

In early 2025, the Palestinian movement Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions called for "peaceful protests" at the 2025 Tour de France against the participation of Israel-Premier Tech.{{cite web | url=https://www.bikeradar.com/news/bds-movement-calls-for-protests-against-israel-premier-tech-at-tour-de-france | title= BDS Movement calls for protests against Israel–Premier Tech at Tour de France | website= bikeradar.com | date=16 April 2025}}

In April 2025, during the Amstel Gold Race,{{cite web | url=https://cyclinguptodate.com/other/pro-palestinian-group-to-protest-against-israel-premier-techs-participation-during-amstel-gold-race | title=Pro-Palestinian group to protest against Israel - Premier Tech's participation during Amstel Gold Race | website=cyclinguptodate.com | date=18 April 2025 }} the pro-Palestinian protest group "Free Palestine Maastricht" again disrupted Israel - Premier Tech's participation.

In May 2025, an activist was charged with assault after running onto the road in front of an Israel - Premier Tech rider in a breakaway from the peloton at the Giro d’Italia.{{cite web | url=https://road.cc/content/news/anti-israel-activist-charged-assault-after-giro-protest-314035 | title= Anti-Israel activist charged with assault after “insane” Giro d’Italia protest | date=16 May 2025 | website= road.cc }}

{{Updated|7 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/team-details/20287|title=Israel–Premier Tech|publisher=UCI|access-date=7 January 2025}}}}

{{Cycling squad start}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pascal Ackermann|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|1|17}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=George Bennett|nat=NZL|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Joseph Blackmore|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|2|23}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Guillaume Boivin|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|5|25}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Simon Clarke|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|7|18}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pier-André Côté|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|4|24}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Itamar Einhorn|nat=ISR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|9|20}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Marco Frigo|nat=ITA|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|3|2}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Chris Froome|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|5|20}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jakob Fuglsang|nat=DEN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|3|22}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Derek Gee|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|8|3}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jan Hirt|nat=CZE|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|1|21}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Hugo Hofstetter|nat=FRA|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|2|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Hugo Houle|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|9|27}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Oded Kogut|nat=ISR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|2|14}}}}

{{Cycling squad mid}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Matis Louvel|nat=FRA|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|7|19}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Alexey Lutsenko|nat=KAZ|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|9|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Krists Neilands|nat=LAT|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|8|18}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Riley Pickrell|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|8|16}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Nadav Raisberg|nat=ISR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|3|29}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Matthew Riccitello|nat=USA|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|3|5}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Nick Schultz|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|9|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Michael Schwarzmann|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|1|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Riley Sheehan|nat=USA|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|6|16}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jake Stewart|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|10|2}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Corbin Strong|nat=NZL|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|4|30}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Tom Van Asbroeck|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|19}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Ethan Vernon|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|8|26}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Stephen Williams|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|6|9}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Michael Woods|nat=CAN|birthdate={{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|10|12}}}}

{{Cycling squad end}}

{{main|List of wins by Cycling Academy Team and its successors}}

File:Oudenaarde - Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften, 9 april 2016 (B086) (cropped).JPG]]

File:Guillaume Boivin.jpg]]

File:Rund um Köln 2022 029.jpg]]

File:UCI Track World Championships 2018 129.jpg]]

{{palmares start}}

;2015

:20px Israel Time Trial, Yoav Bear{{cite web|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=160550|title=National Championships Israel – ITT|access-date=7 February 2016}}

:20px Israel Road Race, Guy Sagiv{{cite web|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/national_Championships_Israel_Road_Race_2015|title=National Championships Israel – Road Race|access-date=7 February 2016}}

;2016

:20px Namibia Road Race, Dan Craven{{cite web|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=166570|title=National Championships Namibia – Road Race|access-date=7 February 2016}}

:20px Israel Time Trial, Aviv Yechezkel

:20px Israel Road Race, Guy Sagiv

:File:MaillotMexicano.PNG Mexico Road Race, Luis Lemus

:20px Estonia Road Race, Mihkel Raim

;2017

:20px Israel Time Trial, Guy Sagiv

:20px Israel Road Race, Roy Goldstein

:20px Latvian Road Race, Krists Neilands

;2018

:20px Israel Time Trial, Omer Goldstein

:20px Israel Road Race, Roy Goldstein

:20px Latvian Road Race, Krists Neilands

:20px Estonia Road Race, Mihkel Raim

;2019

:20px Austria Time Trial, Matthias Brändle

:20px Israel Time Trial, Guy Niv

:20px Latvian Time Trial, Krists Neilands

:20px Israel Road Race, Guy Sagiv

;2020

:20px Estonia Road Race, Norman Vahtra

:20px Austria Time Trial, Matthias Brändle

:20px Israel Time Trial, Guy Sagiv

:20px Israel Road Race, Omer Goldstein

;2021

:20px Israel Time Trial, Omer Goldstein

:20px Austria Time Trial, Matthias Brändle

:20px Denmark Road Race, Mads Würtz Schmidt

:20px Canada Road Race, Guillaume Boivin

;2022

:20px Israel Time Trial, Omer Goldstein

:20px Israel Road Race, Itamar Einhorn

;2023

:20px Canada Time Trial, Derek Gee

:20px Israel Road Race, Itamar Einhorn

{{palmares end}}

• Sport in Israel
• Cycling in Israel

{{reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{Israel Start-Up Nation seasons}}

{{UCI WorldTeams}}

{{UCI Professional Continental teams}}

{{Israel Start-Up Nation riders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel-Premier Tech}}

Category:Former UCI WorldTeams

Category:UCI Professional Continental teams

Category:UCI Continental Teams (Europe)

Category:Cycling teams established in 2015

Category:2015 establishments in Israel

Category:Cycling teams based in Israel