Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
