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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered 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 issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

The team told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the international cycling union. Reuters also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and a person."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

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

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.