🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts. He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned. Official Stance and Ongoing Case Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input. Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad. Substantial Demand and Rebranding News "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual." He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.