🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand 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." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned. Official Stance and Legal Proceedings Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment. Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and individual." He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement 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. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.