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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, left his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work in the current situation," Gee stated in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered 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 ethical perspective. These issues weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he added.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.

The basis is uncertain what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.