Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive 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 noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
