🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit Following Contract Ending Due to 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he added. Team’s Response and Ongoing Case The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment. Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Substantial Demand and Rebranding News "I recognize 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 an athlete and a person." He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers. Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.