Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for 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 about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.