“This announcement was not made in consultation with the team” – Leaked internal memo reveals surprise as Premier Tech announce end of sponsorship for former Israel outfit

The dust is far from settled after Premier Tech’s abrupt decision to sever ties with the team formerly known as Israel – Premier Tech.

Hours after the Canadian company confirmed it would end its co-title sponsorship with immediate effect, a leaked internal memo from general manager Kjell Carlstrom revealed both shock and defiance within the camp — and a promise that new backers are already in the pipeline.

The message, obtained and published by journalist Daniel Benson on his Substack, was sent to riders and staff on Friday afternoon — shortly after Premier Tech’s own press release went live.

“Today, Premier Tech announced their intention to step down as co-title sponsor for 2026,” Carlström wrote. “This announcement was not made in consultation with the team, which is why we weren’t in a position to inform you internally beforehand."

"We have a number of exciting conversations ongoing with potential partners, and we expect to be able to update you all in the coming week.”

The wording makes clear that management were blindsided by the sponsor’s public statement, underscoring how rapidly the situation has unravelled behind the scenes.

Carlström ended the message on an upbeat note, seeking to reassure riders that preparations for 2026 remain on track.

“While this news is disappointing, it doesn’t change our approach to the 2026 season,” he added. “We’re more motivated than ever to hit the ground running, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all at camp in two weeks’ time.”

Sources cited by Benson suggest the team still expects to unveil its rebrand and new sponsorship structure within a fortnight, despite the turmoil.

For now, the former Israel outfit stands without a title sponsor, its future resting on the success of ongoing negotiations. Internally, though, the message is one of resilience: staff are being told to prepare as normal, with training camp set to begin later this month.

Whether those “exciting conversations” deliver a new backer in time for the 2026 season could determine if the team survives its most turbulent chapter yet — or fades as the sport’s most politically fraught experiment.