🔗 Share this article Canadian Rider Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Termination Over Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts. 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 issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input. Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer continue racing with the squad. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual." He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts. It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers. In related news, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.