Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
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 announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
