Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Due to Personal Convictions

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.