Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
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 issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
