Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"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 around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes 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.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
