🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Agreement Ending Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment. Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person." He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.