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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to end his contract due to what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

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

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated in a social media post.

He noted that the decision 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 ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Ongoing Case

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to comment on the matter since the dispute is currently before the arbitration panel of the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for their input.

Gee acknowledged that departing from Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but stated it was a risk 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. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed around 30 million euros – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He expressed that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, despite the recent announcement about rebranding and organizational adjustments.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make only a fraction of that sum during their racing years.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that the team will undertake a full rebrand starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity following over ten years.