Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
