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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.

Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.