Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread 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 in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
