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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."

He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.