Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows 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 in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without a contract 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 sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
