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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech 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 terminated my agreement with just cause, 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 the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.