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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.

He noted that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."

He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

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.