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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, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront 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 an athlete 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.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.