Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly 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 deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech 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.
