The legal dispute between Derek Gee-West and Israel-Premier Tech has been resolved, with the Canadian star saying the controversy is 'best left in the past'. The €30 million legal dispute was over Gee-West's acrimonious departure from the scandal-laden squad, with the 28-year-old claiming that 'certain issues' had made his 'continuation at the team untenable'.
Gee-West, who finished fourth overall at last year's Giro, hasn't raced since the Canadian national championships last June, after he issued a 'notice of termination' to Israel-Premier Tech in August. Despite signing a five-year extension in 2023, tying him to the squad until the end of 2028, Gee-West later confirmed that he had unilaterally terminated his contract, citing an 'irreparable relationship' with the team and 'serious concerns' about continuing racing in the squad's colours.
The Canadian stage racer also claimed that he was facing a €30 million damages claim from Israel-Premier Tech for 'doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person', the case prompting Gee-West to call on the UCI's Arbitration Board to intervene. However, the dispute was eventually resolved, and Gee-West is now focusing on his future with Lidl-Trek, aiming to return to racing and target a top result at the Giro d'Italia.
Gee-West's departure from Israel-Premier Tech was not explicitly linked to Israel's actions in Gaza, as he did not want to use the situation as a 'scapegoat' to get out of his contract. Instead, he emphasized the importance of leaving the past behind and focusing on his future with Lidl-Trek, where he hopes to continue his meteoric rise through the ranks.
