Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
