🔗 Share this article

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.

He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

In related news, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.