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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros from his former team, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive 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 in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.

Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I recognize the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of 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 sum during their racing years.

Separately, 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 following over ten years.