Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
