Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as 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, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, 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 following over ten years.