Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
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