Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, 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 Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was carefully considered and came after 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 deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to 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 is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
