Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
