Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
