🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces €30m Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "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, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts. He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after 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 factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added. Official Stance and Legal Proceedings Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing with the squad. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual." He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.