🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit Following Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions." 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, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts. He noted that the decision 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 both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned. Official Stance and Ongoing Case Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input. Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk 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 continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual." He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers. Separately, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.