Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive legal demand totaling €30 million 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."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before 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 acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, 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 sum during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
