Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "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 September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim 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 – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount 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 Israeli identity following over ten years.
