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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This follows his choice to end his contract based on what he described as "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Underlying Reasons

Gee, aged 28, who finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before the Vuelta a España in September. That race experienced extensive demonstrations related to Palestine connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement if they cannot to continue performing their duties under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that his choice was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, as well as major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and personal-belief standpoint. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he mentioned.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement regarding this issue since the dispute is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. The news agency also reached out to the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that leaving Israel-Premier Tech left him without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated it was a risk he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed around 30 million euros – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He shared that this situation strengthens my belief that departing the squad was correct, regardless of the team's recent statement of branding changes and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Professional cyclists usually make just a small portion of that sum throughout their careers.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech announced on Monday that the team would undergo a complete rebranding starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity following over ten years.