Canadian cyclist Derek Gee is reportedly facing a massive €30 million damages claim from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech, following his decision to terminate his contract over personal beliefs. The 28-year-old, who achieved a career-best fourth-place finish at this year’s Giro d’Italia, parted ways with the team just before the Vuelta a España, citing moral and safety concerns that he said made it impossible to continue racing under the existing arrangement.
Gee explained that his decision was deeply personal and came after what he described as an “irreparable relationship” with team management. He said his conscience weighed heavily due to the circumstances surrounding his team’s participation in competitions amid growing global scrutiny over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The Canadian athlete asserted that continuing to ride for the team had become incompatible with his principles and personal safety.
While Gee maintains that he exercised his right to terminate the contract “with just cause,” the team has taken a different stance, reportedly seeking up to €30 million in damages. The case has now been referred to the arbitral board of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s governing body. The figure has raised eyebrows across the cycling world, as it far exceeds typical rider earnings, leading many to speculate on how the damages were calculated.
Gee has acknowledged that his decision left him without a professional contract or the usual protections afforded to riders in case of injury. However, he insisted that the moral and ethical reasons behind his resignation outweighed any financial or professional risks. “It was a risk I was willing to take,” he said, emphasizing his belief that no athlete should be compelled to continue under conditions that conflict with their values.
His departure coincides with Israel-Premier Tech’s announcement that the team will undergo a full rebrand ahead of the 2026 season. The organization is reportedly moving away from its long-held Israeli identity after more than a decade in the sport. Gee suggested that such “branding changes and cosmetic shifts” only reinforced his conviction that leaving was the right decision, regardless of the financial consequences he now faces.
The cycling community now awaits the UCI’s arbitration outcome, which could set a significant precedent for athlete rights and contractual freedom in professional sports.
