Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries 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 Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, 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.
