Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team 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 governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for 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, 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 amount throughout their careers.
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 following over ten years.
