Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.