Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with 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 work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice 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 safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech 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.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
