Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
