Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €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 described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement 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 noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, 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 a person."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
