“This race has changed my life" - Derek Gee delighted by standout Giro d'Italia performance

Heading into the 2023 Giro d'Italia, not much was known about Israel - Premier Tech's 25-year-old Canadian, Derek Gee. Following a number of standout performances however, Gee now seemingly has a massive future ahead of him.

“This race has changed my life,” admitted the winner of the combativity award, which ensured his excellent Giro didn't end without reward after four second-placed stage finishes, to Cycling News. “It’s hard to put into words the amount of support I’ve received from fans everywhere. I’ll remember this race for the rest of my life.”

Over the course of three weeks in Italy, Gee has gone from being on the periphery of even the most ardent cycling fan's knowledge to being one of the most well-liked and supported riders in the whole of the peloton. “Coming into the Giro, I was grateful for the opportunity to race it because it’s such a massive race," he says. "That hasn’t changed, it’s been a massive experience. To be able to be up there and compete for the stages adds another layer to it all.”

“There’s going to be a lot of reflecting now. I feel like a different rider compared to when I started the Giro, so there’s going to be a lot of reflecting on it and seeing what happens in future races," continues the Canadian. “It’ll be hard to repeat a Giro like this, but I left myself room by not winning a stage. Now I’m looking forward to seeing how I come out of the race and the changes it will have on me, on what rider I’ll be in the future and what races I target.”