Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad 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 only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
