Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract 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 his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute 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 departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, 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.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
