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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to terminate his agreement based on what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

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

"I ended my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was carefully considered and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without a contract or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"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 – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

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

The basis is uncertain what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum throughout their careers.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.