Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
