"Certain issues made my continuation at the team untenable" – Derek Gee says Israel - Premier Tech contract has now been "formally terminated" amid INEOS transfer rumours

Derek Gee has broken his silence on the swirling speculation around his future, issuing a firm statement confirming that his contract with Israel - Premier Tech has now been “formally and duly terminated” by his legal representatives.

In a carefully worded statement released on Monday, Gee characterised the decision to leave as “not an easy one,” but said it was made after “careful consideration and for legitimate reasons.” “Certain issues simply made my continuation at the team untenable,” Gee stated, in what appears to be a clear reference to behind-the-scenes tensions with IPT management.

While the exact nature of those “issues” remains unspecified, the 26-year-old Canadian was keen to push back on the transfer narrative that has dominated headlines in recent weeks. In a pointed clarification, Gee insisted that his decision to leave “solely concerns the termination of [his] previous contract with Israel - Premier Tech,” and that, in accordance with UCI regulations, he has “not yet signed with, nor even spoken to, any new teams.”

That comment comes amid widespread reporting — first from Daniel Benson’s Substack and later corroborated by Italian journalist Ciro Scognamiglio — that Gee is poised to sign with INEOS Grenadiers in what would be one of the biggest and most strategic transfers of the 2025 window. While Gee’s statement doesn’t explicitly deny the possibility of a move to the British team, it puts a legal line in the sand regarding the timeline of events. Gee closed his message with a note of gratitude to the colleagues he leaves behind: “I wish to send a heartfelt thank you to the staff and riders I had the privilege of working with in my time in the organization.”

Gee’s departure, if finalised, would represent a major blow to Israel - Premier Tech’s sporting project. After signing with the team in 2021, the Canadian rapidly became one of their most valuable assets — both in terms of performance and brand visibility.

He shot to prominence during the 2023 Giro d’Italia, where his string of breakaway podiums and tireless attacking style won fans across the cycling world. He followed that up with a breakout GC campaign at the 2024 Giro, finishing 4th overall and cementing his reputation as a versatile threat in both stage races and one-day terrain.

In 2023, IPT rewarded that upward trajectory with a five-year contract extension that ran through 2028. But that long-term deal is now at the centre of a contractual dispute that could yet become one of the most complex in recent World Tour history.

Prior to Gee’s statement, Israel - Premier Tech released one of their own, acknowledging receipt of a formal termination notice from the rider’s lawyers on August 9. However, the team insists that the contract remains valid.

“Israel–Premier Tech was unexpectedly issued a notice of termination from lawyers representing Derek Gee,” the team said. “Gee, who is contracted with Israel–Premier Tech until 2028… had been engaged in discussions with team management to renegotiate the conditions of his current contract. Israel–Premier Tech firmly believes that Gee’s contract is valid… and is engaged in continued discussions with Gee’s representatives and the UCI to resolve the situation.”

That statement — and particularly the invocation of the UCI — signals that a legal process is already underway, and that IPT is preparing to contest Gee’s departure on formal grounds.

The situation now appears to hinge on how the UCI interprets Gee’s attempted termination. If his legal team can successfully argue that the conditions of his existing contract were breached — or that a termination is valid under UCI rules — Gee could be free to sign with another team as early as this off-season. If not, a drawn-out legal battle may delay or even derail a high-profile move.

Regardless of how it plays out, Gee’s statement marks a significant shift in tone. What had been a swirl of speculation and silence now has a formal endpoint — at least from the rider’s perspective.

It also adds to the sense that we’re witnessing one of the most dramatic and potentially precedent-setting contract disputes in recent pro cycling memory. And with the Vuelta already underway, and the transfer market heating up, this story is far from over.