Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.
