🔗 Share this article Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Key Motivations The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned. Official Stance and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team. Substantial Demand and Team Changes "I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – 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 correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. 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 complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.