🔗 Share this article Former Cyclist Derek Gee Confronts €30m Damages Claim After Contract Ending Due to Personal Convictions Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "deeply held convictions." Race Exit and Underlying Reasons The 28-year-old, who finished fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza. "I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post. He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he added. Team’s Response and Ongoing Case The team told Reuters they could not to comment regarding this issue as the case is now with the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment. Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing for the team. Massive Claim and Team Changes "I recognize the team has a different view," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand reportedly over around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and a person." He expressed that these developments strengthens my belief that departing the squad was the right decision, despite the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments. It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that amount during their racing years. Separately, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.