Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"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 a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
