Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," 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 related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Team Changes
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
