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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to end his contract due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.