Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.