Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."

He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.