Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
