Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event 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 extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with 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 departing from the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.