🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I ended 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 on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input. Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual." He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.