Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
