Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after 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 factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
