Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive 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 explained in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
