"That's up to the UCI" - La Vuelta all over again? Anti Israel - Premier Tech protests planned for Giro dell'Emilia, but no decisions are expected

Protests are planned for the Giro dell'Emilia on the 4th of October due to the presence of Israel - Premier Tech in the race. The race director will not exclude the team from the race and puts it up to the UCI to make the decision. Within just over a week's time, the peloton could be seeing a repetition of the Vuelta a España on Italian roads, with pressure piling on the Israeli team further and further.

Just this week both the race's bike supplier Factor and its title sponsor Premier Tech have demanded the removal of the Israel name from the team and also the change of its nationality. Meanwhile when it comes to the events themselves, O Gran Camiño has confirmed it won't host the team whilst both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España are being heavily pressured by either protest groups or even government members already that the race won't be held if the team is present - something at this point inevitable because it will rise to World Tour level this year. But already soon more problems might await.

As was the case in Spain, there is support from within positions of power towards the opposition against the team. In this case, a Bologna city's sports council member Roberta Li Calzi told Gazzetta dello Sport that "we oppose the participation of an Israeli team in the Giro dell'Emilia because the Israeli government is guilty of serious crimes against the civilian population of Gaza," she told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We cannot accept that a team with ties to the Israeli government participates in a sporting event that represents opposing values. We therefore call on the organizers of the Giro dell'Emilia to ban Israel-Premier Tech from participating."

This not being a World Tour race may influence both the race organizers or team to make the first move and potentially cancel the team's participation in the race, something which was much more difficult to do at the Vuelta. However it also seems unlikely, and a potential equipment change not to include the word Israel could be the choice to make - although that visibly made no difference in the Spanish race.

But exactly as was the case at the Vuelta, the race's director Adriano Amici has already shifted the responsibility towards the UCI, which has strongly supported the team's right to race under regular conditions. "I'm not the one who should exclude the Israeli team. That's up to the UCI. When they observe certain issues, they have to communicate that it's better for Israel-Premier Tech not to participate," he explained to La Presse. "In my position, that's difficult, because I have a duty to invite the best teams and riders".

"Everyone's a politician these days, but if we look at the sporting aspect, why is Israel present at the UCI Road World Championships? Why did Italy play a qualifying match against Israel? I will contact the team directors. They'll have to be aware that they're not welcome, but there's nothing more I can do."