Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.
He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as 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 Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance 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 continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
