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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a massive damages claim totaling 30 million euros from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive 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 explained 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 weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement 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 governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.