🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Agreement Termination Over Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added. Team’s Response and Ongoing Case The team told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team. Substantial Demand and Rebranding News "I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual." He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum during their racing years. Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.