🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Faces 30 Million Euro Lawsuit After Contract Termination Due to 'Personal Belief' Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million 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." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. "I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts. He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly 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 issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned. Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings The team told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input. Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person." He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments. The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years. In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.