Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed 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 based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not 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 UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
