🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief' Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs." Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added. Official Stance and Ongoing Case The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person." He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years. In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.