Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.