🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Over 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, 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 protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Substantial Demand and Rebranding News "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person." He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad 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. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.