Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement 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, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract 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.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear 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 they will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
