Derek Gee faces $30 million lawsuit after leaving Israel-Premier Tech

Derek Gee has revealed he is at the center of a legal dispute that could cost him approximately €30 million after unilaterally terminating his contract with Israel-Premier Tech. The Canadian rider cited "serious safety concerns and matters of personal conscience" for his decision.

Gee's decision comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Israeli team, which has been the target of pro-Palestinian protests in recent weeks, especially during the Vuelta a España. The situation has led the team to withdraw from several Italian races, including Il Lombardia, and to announce a change of identity for 2026, with owner Sylvan Adams stepping down.

In a statement on social media, Gee explained: "I have terminated my contract for just cause, as is every person's right when they cannot continue to perform their job under the existing circumstances. This decision was not taken lightly – it followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as serious safety concerns and matters of personal conscience that weighed heavily."

The rider, who achieved significant results with the team, including a ninth-place finish at the 2024 Tour de France and a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Giro d'Italia, now faces a potential lawsuit. "I am facing what I understand to be a claim for damages exceeding €30 million—for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and as a person," Gee said.

"These are not the kind of numbers or situations an athlete expects when dreaming of becoming a professional cyclist, and I believe it goes against the very values that the sport seeks to uphold," concluded the Canadian rider.

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