🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned. Official Stance and Ongoing Case Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter as the case 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 the team meant being without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person." He expressed 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 just a small portion of that amount during their racing years. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.