Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, 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 the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.