Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot 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 related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
