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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a massive damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right if they cannot to continue performing their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without a contract or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, despite 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 sum throughout their careers.

Separately, the team announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.