What: Public demonstration and press briefing
When: Sunday September 14th 1pm
Where: George Etienne Cartier Monument (statue at the base of Mount Royal, off avenue de Parc and across from Parc Jeanne Mance)
Montreal, September 12th, 2025— Montreal Cyclists are denouncing the invitation of the Israel Premier Tech (IPT) cycling team to participate in the Grand Prix Cycliste in Montreal. As Israel continues its genocidal campaign in Gaza, IPT serves as a form of “sportswashing”, meant to distract from and normalize war crimes and other violations of international and humanitarian law.
The team’s owner, Quebecois billionaire Sylvan Adams, describes the riders as ambassadors for Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and also a personal friend of Adams, has declared his support for IPT, and the team has filmed promotional videos with the Israeli prime minister. Although the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body of international cycling competition, took steps to exclude Russian teams from competing after the invasion of Ukraine, they remain silent on the daily massacres that continue to unfold in Gaza. Cyclists in Montreal are outraged that IPT is still allowed a platform at the Grand Prix Cycliste.
As protests continue to dog Israel Premier Tech throughout the tour, from France and most recently at La Veulta in Spain, the cycling community of Montreal will keep up the pressure to respond to the global calls for solidarity from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign in Palestine. On Sunday, September 14th, members of the Montreal cycling community will hold a demonstration to denounce the presence of Israel Premier Tech and to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza.
