Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand 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 the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
