Canadian cyclist Derek Gee says he is facing a damages claim of 30 million euros ($54 million) from his former team Israel-Premier Tech after ending his contract over what he described as “personal beliefs”.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old finished fourth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia.<\/p>\n
But he left Israel-Premier Tech shortly before September’s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, which was subject to pro-Palestinian protests linked to the Israel-Gaza war<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances,” Gee said in a statement on social media.<\/p>\n “This decision was not taken lightly \u2014 it followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team, both from a safety and personal-belief standpoint that weighed heavily on my conscience.”<\/p>\n Israel-Premier Tech told Reuters it was unable to comment on the matter as the case was currently before the arbitral board of the UCI, the sport’s governing body.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reuters has also contacted the UCI for comment.<\/p>\n