Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
