𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸 💙

In a video posted on social media, @rickzabel today announced the end of his professional career as a road cyclist.

Rick has been an integral part of IPT since 2020, both in his role as a teammate and the fun he brought to the team.

🗣️ “For me, it’s time to move on. I am happy with my decision and I’m looking forward to all the new adventures and challenges that are yet to come. Of course, I also hope that I will remain a part of the cycling family in other roles and capacities. It was an amazing time. Thank you all. Yours, Rick.”

#YallaIPT ...

We’re off on a lap of Italy for three weeks with these guys 👋🏻

#GirodItalia 🇮🇹 #YallaIPT ...

The moment you return to cycling is the moment you reunite with life.

Avida Bachar will never be the same man he once was: the husband, father, farmer, and cyclist he was until the dawn of October 7. By the end of that terrible night, he had lost his wife Dana, his 15-year-old son, and yes, his right leg, too, all taken by the bullets and grenades of terrorists who invaded his home in Kibbutz Beeri.

In the seven months since, nearly everyone at the rehabilitation department of Tel Hashomer Hospital has witnessed Bachar prove that no one can sever his spirit or his eternal optimism. When we visited him, it was immediately clear he was the brightest face in the ward, zipping around in his wheelchair, spreading cheer among other patients—many of whom faced far lighter challenges—refusing to lament his fate.

“I live with the feeling that I was incredibly fortunate to have lived alongside my wife Dana and to have raised our son Carmel until they were taken,” he has repeated thousands of times since that tragic day.

Recently, Bachar returned to the kibbutz and the land he loves so dearly, but one precious goal remains elusive: getting back on a bike.

Avida was one of the leading cyclists in his kibbutz, where biking is a central part of daily life and leisure culture. He never doubted that this day would come.

Just a few days ago, he made a significant, albeit small, first step by hesitantly climbing onto a trainer bike at The Next Step project that is dedicated to help amputees adjust to the sport they used to love.

But after the first few pedal strokes with a prosthesis that still felt so foreign, a big smile spread across his face. He says: “The hardest part was figuring out how to get on the bike. It’s like starting everything from scratch—a task that was so natural to me before. But after a few minutes, my apprehension was replaced by a wonderful feeling.”

Now, he’s waiting for the real thing—to ride without any wires and to savor once again the freedom that only a bicycle can offer. “My biggest fear is falling, but I know I’ll overcome it,” he says.

#YallaIPT ...

#ThrowbackThursday

Last year’s @giroditalia is a race we’ll never forget. So much beauty, so many great rides, and too many emotions 🩷

#GirodItalia 🇮🇹 #YallaIPT ...

Good clothing isn’t just a requirement for our riders!

@dare2b_sports keeps our staff comfortable, allowing them to be at their best, even in the most intense race moments 👊🏻

#WeDare2b #YallaIPT ...

Ever have those days where getting out on the bike is a struggle?

@elite_cycling’s Suito-T is designed to provide a realistic enjoyable training experience, perfect for those cold and wet spring days.

#EliteCycling #YallaIPT ...