Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
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.
