Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 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 "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 Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
