🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input. Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual." He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.