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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee has revealed he faces a substantial legal demand totaling €30 million from his former team, Israel-Premier Tech. This comes after his choice to terminate his agreement due to what he called "deeply held convictions."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth overall at the recent Giro d’Italia, departed from his team shortly before September’s Vuelta a España. The event experienced widespread demonstrations related to Palestine connected with Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

"I ended my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee stated on his social media accounts.

He noted that his choice was not taken lightly and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to major worries about competing for the squad from both a safety and ethical perspective. These factors weighed heavily on his conscience, he added.

Official Stance and Legal Proceedings

The team informed Reuters they were unable to provide a statement on the matter since the dispute is now with the arbitral board of the UCI, the international cycling union. The news agency has also contacted the UCI for comment.

Gee acknowledged that leaving Israel-Premier Tech meant being without an agreement or protection in case of injury, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing for the team.

Substantial Demand and Rebranding News

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "However, I am now facing what I understand to be a financial demand said to exceed approximately €30m – simply for exercising my fundamental rights as an athlete and individual."

He expressed that these developments reinforce his view that departing the squad was correct, despite the team's recent statement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

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

Separately, the team announced on Monday that they would undergo a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding following over ten years.