Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting 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 Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
