Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, the team 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.