Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work 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's leader, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad 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 only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
