Published January 6, 2022 04:22PM
Premier Tech, the former sponsor of Astana, will replace Start-Up Nation Central as co-title sponsor of Israel Start-Up Nation in 2022, making the team Israel-Premier Tech in the new year.
“With the presence of all four Israelis, and five of the six Canadians competing in the WorldTour, this team is, in many ways, a reflection of my two nationalities,” said team owner Sylvan Adams. “As a Canada-based, international company, Premier Tech is a natural partner for us, and we are the natural home for Premier Tech. I am proud that Jean Bélanger and Premier Tech have joined our project.”
“Premier Tech will help us reach the lofty goals we’ve set for this team, and I am thrilled to welcome Premier Tech as co-title sponsor and unveil our new jersey today,” Adams said.
The Canadian company announced that they would no longer partner with Astana at the end of the 2021 season after they had a falling out with Alexandre Vinokourov. Since then rumours have linked Premier Tech with Team BikeExchange, the now-crumbling Qhubeka NextHash, and the American Rally Cycling team.
The deal between Adams and Premier Tech seems to have been helped along with the acquisition of Jakob Fuglsang, Hugo Houle and former Astana director Steve Bauer.
“As a team, we have always aimed to grow with each year and now, after two years at the WorldTour level, we are embarking on a significant new chapter with the arrival of Premier Tech,” said team general manager Kiell Carlström. “We have added some important names to our rider roster, in addition to an already strong team, and together with partners Sylvan Adams, Ron Baron, Kevin Ham, and Jean Bélanger from Premier Tech, we believe we can aim for an ambitious first season as Israel – Premier Tech, building on what has been a successful trajectory for Israel’s first professional cycling team.”