Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement 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 not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Ongoing Case
The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.
Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.
Massive Claim and Rebranding News
"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
