Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."
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 pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
"I ended my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.
He noted 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 weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.
Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.
Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.
"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."
He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.
It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.
Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.
Elena Hartwell is a multidisciplinary artist and educator passionate about fostering creative communities in London.