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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he described as "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that his choice was not taken lightly 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 weighed heavily on his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. The news agency has also contacted the governing body for comment.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I recognize the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He expressed that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.