🔗 Share this article Canadian Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, 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 noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Ongoing Case The team told Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input. Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person." He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount throughout their careers. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.