🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim Following Agreement Ending Due to Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual." He expressed 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 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.