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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows 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 overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, left his team just prior to the Vuelta a España in September. The event experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that the decision was carefully considered and came after an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from both a safety and ethical perspective. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he added.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is currently before 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 acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was correct, despite the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that amount during their racing years.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.