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Professional rider Derek Gee from Canada has revealed he is confronting a substantial legal demand amounting to 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. That race experienced widespread pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to continue performing their work in the current situation," Gee explained on his social media accounts.

He noted that the decision was not taken lightly and followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, in addition to serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue 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 Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he accepted since he was unable to continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim reportedly over approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental 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 team's recent statement of branding changes 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, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that they will undertake a complete rebranding starting in 2026, distancing themselves from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.