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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a massive damages claim amounting to 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 called "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Key Motivations

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. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their duties in the current situation," Gee explained in a social media post.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and followed a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the sport’s governing body. Reuters also reached out to the UCI for comment.

Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take since he was unable to keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what is described as a damages claim reportedly over around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.

Separately, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team would undergo a complete rebranding for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.