Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
