Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision 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 in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
