Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
