Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

The team told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

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.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.