Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
