🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he added. Official Stance and Legal Proceedings Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving the team meant being without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer continue racing for the team. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand 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 departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.