Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Over Personal Convictions
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."
Race Exit and Underlying Reasons
The 28-year-old, who finished 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 linked to the conflict in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.
He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.
Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings
The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.
Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.
Massive Claim and Team Changes
"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual."
He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
In related news, Israel–Premier Tech 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.
