Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
