🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim After Contract Ending Over 'Personal Belief' Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Ongoing Case Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment. Gee admitted 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 keep competing with the squad. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual." He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.