Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable 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 governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.
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 said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.