Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," 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 serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
