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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.

In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.