Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons
Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
