? - Premier Tech may leave Israel, noisy 2025 ánd era-Froome behind, but also loses heavy weights

The 2025 cycling season has been over for a while now, and riders are already even tentatively starting their preparations for the upcoming cycling year. At IDLProCycling, we take another look at all the big teams at the end of the year and that includes Israel-Premier Tech, which had a tumultuous year.

Of the classics, Israel-Premier Tech was not to have it in 2025. Of the team's more than 20 victories, only two were in one-day races: Pascal Ackermann won in Dunkirk, while Oded Kogut won a rainy Gooikse Pijl in Belgium.

The team also did not give in the major classics. Hugo Hofstetter's fifth place in Gent-Wevelgem can be called the best result, which is still relatively meager. A positive note is the development of Joe Blackmore, who showed his potential in the Ardennes in the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race, among others.

As mediocre as it went in the classics, it actually went well in the stage races. Derek Gee was one of the great animators in the Giro d'Italia with a fourth place, while Matthew Riccitello finished fifth and won the white jersey in what was an incredibly chaotic Vuelta a Espana for the team. Twice in the top five in a major tour is very good for a team of this caliber.

In addition, Corbin Strong won both the Arctic Race of Norway and Tour de Wallonie in the last months of the season. And the team showed some good results through the first six months in races such as O Gran Camino, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour of the Alps and Critérium du Dauphiné.

Israel-Premier Tech has had a chaotic year with all the perils surrounding its main sponsor - or namesake, as you wish to call it - but the riders nevertheless managed to perform fine. Our final grade comes out as 7.0.

A major metamorphosis is underway at Israel-Premier Tech, which will start under a different branding in 2026 anyway. But the roster of riders is also undergoing a major overhaul. There are still question marks surrounding the future of leader Derek Gee, who has indicated he no longer wants to ride for the team.

In addition, big-earners Jakob Fuglsang, Michael Woods (quits cycling), Simon Clarke (quits after Tour Down Under), Chris Froome (unknown) and Pascal Ackermann (Jayco AlUla) are leaving the team, but the departure of Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) will hurt the most.

In their place, with Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Ryan Mullen (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Alessandro Pinarello (VF Group-Bardiani), Pau Marti and Brady Gilmore (development team), the team primarily acquired riders for the depth and future of the squad.

Transfers in: Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Ryan Mullen (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Alessandro Pinarello (VF Group-Bardiani), Pau Marti and Brady Gilmore (development team)

Transfers out: Derek Gee (?), Chris Froome (?), Jakob Fuglsang, Michael Woods (quit), Simon Clarke (quits after Tour Down Under), Pascal Ackermann (Jayco AlUla) and Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM)

At the time of writing, it is not yet clear what the team will be called in 2026, but we already know 25 riders on the team for next year. Of those, Joe Blackmore is one of the most interesting. The 2024 Tour de l'Avenir winner has a first spring and Tour de Francein the pocket and could possibly start delivering next year.

Other interesting names are Corbin Strong and Riley Sheehan, who also continue to develop at a young age and are not far from the top. Furthermore, it is to be hoped that Stephen Williams, still winner of the Tour Down Under and Flèche Wallonne in 2024, finally manages to get rid of his knee problems.