Amid protests directed at the Israel—Premier Tech team, racer Matthew Riccitello made history on Saturday by securing the title of Best Young Rider at the Vuelta a España cycling competition.
On Sunday in Madrid, Riccitello will step onto the podium to receive the white jersey—the first time in the team’s history.
Riccitello clinched the title with a strong performance on the final summit of Stage 20 of the race, finishing sixth on the day and securing fifth place overall in the general classification.
Stage 20 was also marked by demonstrations by pro-Palestinian activists, which disrupted the race and forced organizers to order a detour to bypass demonstrators positioned further along the route, which began in Robledo de Chavela and ended in Bola Del Mundo, Puerto de Navacerrada.
The race concludes Sunday in Madrid, where police are preparing on an unprecedented scale in anticipation of further demonstrations.
The hostile protests prompted the Israel-Premier Tech riders to change their uniforms during the competition.
“In the interest of prioritizing the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at the Vuelta a España, Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race,” the team announced last week.
“The team name remains Israel-Premier Tech, but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing,” the statement continued.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed support for the team in a social media post on Sept. 5: “Great job to [team owner] Sylvan [Adams] and Israel’s cycling team for not giving in to hate and intimidation. You make Israel proud!”
