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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he is confronting a substantial damages claim totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race was subject to widespread demonstrations related to Palestine linked to the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Ongoing Case

The team informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter as the case is currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but added it was a risk he accepted as he could no longer keep competing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "Yet, I am now facing 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 these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

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

In related news, the team announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.