🔗 Share this article Former Rider Derek Gee Confronts 30 Million Euro Damages Claim After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim totaling €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions." Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza. "I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling 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's leader, as well as major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment. Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Massive Claim and Rebranding News "I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic 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 recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts. The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum during their racing years. Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.