Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing 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 extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
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 would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.