The prestigious Tour de France is set to begin this Saturday in Lille, northern France, but tensions surrounding the event are running high. Just days before the Grand Tour kicks off, pro-Palestinian groups are ramping up their calls and threats against the Israeli cycling team Israel–Premier Tech, which is making its sixth appearance in the race.
Leading the campaign is BDS France, the local branch of the anti-Israel boycott movement, which has launched an online campaign urging protests against the team's participation. The organization published the race route and has called on activists to stage "silent protests" at each stage of the event.
"Once again, the apartheid team from Israel is participating in the Tour. We say no to whitewashing Israel's war crimes through sports. The Israeli team must be boycotted," read one of their posts on social media. These calls are part of a broader wave of anti-Israel demonstrations that have spread across Europe since the outbreak of the war on October 7, with a particular focus on athletes and teams representing Israel on the global stage.
This is not the first time Israel–Premier Tech has faced protests. In fact, the team has encountered demonstrations at nearly every Grand Tour it has raced in - the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España. However, the climate has only grown more volatile since October 7, 2023.
A recent example occurred during the Giro d'Italia, when two protesters disrupted one of the stages by storming onto the course, forcing the peloton to a halt and nearly causing a serious accident. The demonstrators carried anti-Israel signs and threw paint on the road before being detained.
French police and race organizers are taking the threats seriously and have stepped up security measures for the opening stages. According to local sources, security forces are coordinating efforts to prevent disruptions and ensure the safety of the riders and spectators.
Despite the mounting pressure, Israel–Premier Tech is maintaining a business-as-usual stance. The team has presented a focused rider lineup, aiming to return to Paris with at least one stage win - and ideally, two.
