Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.