Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief'
Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Key Motivations
The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he added.
Official Stance and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.
Substantial Demand and Rebranding News
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."
He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding 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, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
