Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand 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 – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
