🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim Following Agreement Ending Due to 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment. Gee acknowledged that leaving the team left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person." He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers. In related news, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.