Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
