Israel-Premier Tech extend contract of Giro d'Italia revelation Derek Gee until 2028: "We expect big things from this talented rider in the near future"

One of the stars of the 2023 Giro d'Italia, Derek Gee has seen his stock rise highly in recent weeks and now the Canadian has been rewarded by a new Israel - Premier Tech contract.

“We knew Derek had a big engine when we took a chance on him, and signed him to our U23 Continental program a couple of years ago. But, at this year’s Giro, Derek proved that he has race smarts, and the ability to perform with the best riders in the pro peloton," said the team's owner, Sylvan Adams. "It was a real coming out party for Derek, along with the young teammates who accompanied him on our Giro squad. Accordingly, we decided to reward Derek by ripping up his neo pro contract and signing him to a new six-year deal, that will ensure his future. We expect big things from this talented rider in the near future."

With four second-placed finishes and two fourth-placed finishes on stages throughout the Giro, Gee came runner-up in both the King of the Mountains competition and the Points Classification, winning the award for the most combative rider.

“It was an incredibly easy decision for me to sign this new contract; I know another five years is a long time, especially in the cycling world, but this team feels like home," says Gee. "The relationship I have with the riders, staff and management, and the direction I can see the team going from a performance standpoint, is something I’m incredibly keen to be a part of for the long term. It also gives me the stability to take a step back and try new directions as a rider that may not have even been something I was considering before the Giro.”

"I’d like to continue to develop without necessarily picking something to specialize in, and just see which direction racing takes me in as a rider," he continues. "I think that’s the exciting part about this contract, there’s time to do that, and I can’t wait for the next 5 years with IPT!”

“Derek Gee is a phenomenal rider and one we see as a future leader of this team. His physical and mental strength make him one of the most exciting bike riders in the pro peloton and when you consider this is just his first year professional, we can’t wait to see what he can do in the future," adds General Manager Kjell Carlström. "Beyond Derek’s racing talent, he is truly one of the nicest and most humble riders we have had the pleasure of working with and I think the whole cycling world saw this shine through in the way he presented himself on and off the bike at the Giro. The future is looking bright with Derek in IPT colors."