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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated 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 explained on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.