Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee stated 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 both a 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 could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him 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 Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
