Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand totaling €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
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
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 financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
