Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.

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

He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.