Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, 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 pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
