🔗 Share this article Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added. Official Stance and Ongoing Case The team informed 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. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment. Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad. Substantial Demand and Rebranding News "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete 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. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers. Separately, the team stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.