Guy Niv

“The team has the name Israel on its jersey. It is important that they will know what Israel looks like—the culture, the people, the history, the food. It will give them a nice taste of what it looks like and feels like to be here,” said Guy Niv, a cyclist with Team Israel Start-Up Nation.

The team members, who come from all over the world and are mainly not Jewish, not only cycle hard, they serve as ambassadors for the State of Israel.

“I felt shivers when I crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysées,” he said. “It was a sense of vast relief and sheer happiness: I have done it for the next generation of young Israeli cyclists.”

It’s not just about winning, say organizers, but about offering the world a glimpse of the Jewish state and inspiring young people to bike on.

Team Israel Start-Up Nation will make its way from the south of France to Paris, as the famous cycling contest takes off on its 107th edition.