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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. The event was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but added 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 I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, regardless of the recent announcement of branding changes and organizational adjustments.

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 the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.