🔗 Share this article Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Over 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment. Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person." He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain 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 complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.