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

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as an athlete and a person."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.