Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Claim After Leaving Former Team
Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has stated that his former team, Israel-Premier Tech, is seeking €30m in damages after he ended his contract, citing personal convictions as the reason for his departure.
The 28-year-old, who placed fourth overall in this year’s Giro d’Italia, left the team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España, a race that saw demonstrations linked to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
“I terminated my contract with just cause, as anyone has the right to do when they can no longer fulfill their role under the given circumstances,” Gee said in a social media statement.
“This was not an easy choice—it came after an irreparable breakdown with the team’s leadership, as well as deep concerns about racing for them, both from a safety perspective and due to personal convictions that I could no longer ignore.”
Israel-Premier Tech declined to comment when reached by *CuriosityNews*, citing ongoing arbitration proceedings with the UCI, cycling’s governing body. The UCI has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without a contract or injury protection, but he accepted the risk, emphasizing that continuing with the team was no longer possible.
“I know the team sees things differently,” Gee added. “Yet now I’m confronted with what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly exceeding €30m—simply for exercising my basic rights as both an athlete and an individual.
“This only reinforces my belief that leaving was the correct decision, despite recent announcements about changes within the team.”
The basis for the €30m claim remains unclear, as rider salaries typically represent only a small portion of such a figure.
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