Cyclist Derek Gee, 28 years old, decided to terminate his contract with the “Israel Premier Tech” team, which extends until 2028, and today he finds himself facing a huge financial demand, and he refuses to continue racing in light of what he described as “a moral burden and serious personal concerns.”

Derek Gee, who shone in the Giro d'Italia by finishing fourth this year, wrote on his Instagram account an emotional post in which he explained the motives for his decision, saying: "I terminated my contract for a good reason. The decision was not easy, but it came after an irreparable relationship with the team manager, and serious concerns related to safety and personal belief that weighed heavily on me."

The Canadian cyclist added that money was not the cause of the dispute, but rather human values ​​and conscience, wondering: “How does money become the main headline when the issue relates to humanity? I simply could not continue with the team under these circumstances.”

Derek Gee continued: “I am now facing what I understand to be a claim for damages to the team said to exceed approximately 30 million euros simply because I did nothing but exercise my basic rights as a professional and a person.”

Derek Gee's decision came at a sensitive time when the Israeli team is witnessing repeated protests due to the two-year war in Gaza, as the club was forced to withdraw from several European races due to security concerns.

Source: media