Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict 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 in a social media post.

He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.