Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated 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 recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view 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. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
