Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."

He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.