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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished 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 extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.