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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he faces a massive legal demand amounting to €30 million by his previous squad, Israel-Premier Tech. This follows his decision to terminate his agreement based on what he called "deeply held convictions."

Race Exit and Key Motivations

The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the general classification at the recent Giro d’Italia, left Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to extensive pro-Palestinian protests linked to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I terminated my agreement for valid reasons, 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 not taken lightly and followed a broken relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns about competing for the squad from safety and personal-belief standpoint. These issues deeply affected his conscience, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the governing body for comment.

Gee admitted that leaving the team left him without an agreement or insurance in case of injury, but added this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer keep competing for the team.

Massive Claim and Rebranding News

"I understand the team has a different view," Gee continued. "However, I now confront what is described as a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that this situation reinforce his view that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the 30 million euro claim covers. Riders typically earn only a fraction of that amount during their racing years.

Separately, the team announced on Monday that the team would undergo a full rebrand starting in 2026, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.