Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.