Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
