Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling €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 called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
