Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling 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 principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes 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.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
