Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract 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 Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
