Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly 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 factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
