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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he faces a substantial damages claim amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he called "personal beliefs."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

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 was subject to 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 work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries related to racing for the team from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from the team meant being without a contract or insurance if he were injured, but added this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to keep competing with the squad.

Substantial Demand and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "Yet, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

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

In related news, the team stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, distancing themselves from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.