Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns 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 Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.