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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right if they cannot to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or protection if he were injured, but added it was a risk he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that leaving the team was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

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 stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.