Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
