Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
