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

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.

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

Separately, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.