Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
