The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team is competing this week in the United Arab Emirates for the sixth time, bringing a highly motivated squad ready to take on the seven-stage challenge this week.
Leading in the sprints in the 2025 UAE Tour is Israeli national champion Oded Kogut, who will take on the world’s best in three stages. Kazakhstani Alexey Lutsenko and American Matthew Riccitello will spearhead the team’s General Classification ambitions, as the squad aims to leave its mark on the UCI World Tour road race.
The competition in the Gulf state will be fierce, with the world’s top teams bringing their leading cyclists, including reigning World Champion Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates.
Israel-Premier Tech Head Sports Director Dror Pekatch said he has confidence in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“This will be my fourth UAE Tour and IPT’s sixth overall, but I believe that for this 2025 edition, we are bringing a squad that is best suited to the race’s specific challenges,” said Pekatch. “A top-five GC [General Classification] finish and a podium result in one of the sprint stages with Oded would be fantastic goals. Is it ambitious? Yes. Is it within reach? I believe it is.”
Backing Kogut, Lutsenko, and Riccitello will be a solid supporting cast, including four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, climbing specialist Jan Hirt, who is making his Israel-Premier Tech debut, as well as Israeli rising star Nadav Raisberg and Canadian powerhouse Pier-André Côté.
For Kogut, the challenge will be immense as he faces world-class sprinters, including Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Olav Kooij (Visma–Lease a Bike) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), the leader of the Israeli team noted.
“He has the potential to grow into a top-level sprinter, and this race will be a key opportunity for him to prove himself at the highest level,” said Pekatch.
Kogut’s best chances will come in stages four, five and six, while stages one, three, and seven will be crucial in the General Classification battle.
A last-minute route change has added a hard climb to the opening stage—a challenging start for Lutsenko and Riccitello. The climbers will also have to conquer two additional summit finishes, including the decisive Jebel Hafeet climb that is expected to determine the overall winner.
For Israel-Premier Tech owner Sylvan Adams, as well as Israeli riders and supporters around the world, the team’s participation in the UAE Tour carries significance beyond sport.
“We first raced here five years ago, just six months before Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords. Even then, we were met with warmth, not hostility. I still remember Emirati children lining up to receive a souvenir water bottle with the name ‘Israel’ on it,” said Adams.
“When the Abraham Accords were signed at the White House, I was honored to be among the few Israelis invited by our American hosts. U.S. peace negotiators told me that IPT’s reception in Dubai gave them hope that the agreement would lead to a warm peace—and that’s exactly what has happened,” the owner of the team continued.
“Our presence here, racing in blue and white jerseys carrying the name of Israel in an Arab country, is a powerful symbol of friendship, unity and the ability of sport to bring people together. I hope to see this peace extend to other Muslim and Arab nations in the future,” Adams said.
This year, Kogut proudly wore his blue-and-white national champion’s jersey on the big stage.
“I feel the responsibility and the weight of this moment, but I embrace it with great pride,” he said.