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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

The team informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body 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 was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes 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 they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.