🔗 Share this article Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post. He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Official Stance and Ongoing Case Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input. Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person." He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.