🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Official Stance and Ongoing Case The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person." He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years. Separately, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.