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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.