🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post. He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment. Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual." He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years. In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.