Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice 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 safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.

Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.