Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment 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 governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
