Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he added.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
