Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
