Israeli team excluded from cycling race

Israel-Premier Tech have been excluded from the Giro dell’Emilia cycling race on 4 October in Italy for safety reasons, the organisers told the AFP news agency.

Adriano Amici, president of GS Emilia – which organises the one-day race, said the team “will unfortunately not be present at our race … We had to make this decision for reasons of public security”.

“There’s too much danger for both the Israel Tech riders and others. The race’s final circuit is run five times so the possibility of the race being disrupted is very high.

“It’s a decision I regret having to make from a sporting perspective, but I had no other choice for public safety.”

The Giro dell’Emilia, whose 2024 edition was won by cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar, will cover 199km (123.7 miles) from Mirandola to Bologna in northern Italy.