Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance 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 arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
