Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him 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 continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
