Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on 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 currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance 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 Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
