🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Lawsuit After Agreement Termination Due to 'Personal Belief' Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts. He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he added. Official Stance and Ongoing Case The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input. Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for 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 recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers. In related news, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.