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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for comment.

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

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.