Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive 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 stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors 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 sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear 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 stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
