🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit Following Agreement Termination Due to Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed 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 choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned. Official Stance and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment. Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person." He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers. In related news, the team stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.