Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event 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 September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on 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 sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
