Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions

Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, 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 after more than a decade.