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 substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs."
Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.
He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Ongoing Case
The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."
He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.
