🔗 Share this article

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, 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, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.