Former Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.
In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
