Finally an end to all rumours: Derek Gee has found a new team and signs contract through 2028

Derek Gee became the center of a transfer soap the likes of which we rarely see in cycling. The Canadian declared in August that his contract was terminated early. He got into a conflict with his team Israel-Premier Tech, now NSN Cycling, and the rumours went on and on. That has now finally come to an end, thanks to Lidl-Trek.

In 2024 Gee broke through, in 2025 he confirmed his breakthrough. A good spring heralded an excellent Giro d'Italia, in which he eventually finished fourth. That Tour of Italy came to an end on June 1, and that would ultimately be the last day we saw Gee race on the international stage.

After that, he only rode the Canadian Championships, in which he finished second in the time trial and first in the road race. He was then actually lined up for the Vuelta, but that didn't happen. The reason? On August 9th, he decided to cancel his contract with Israel-Premier Tech. The team did not agree to it, after which a hefty legal battle ensued, with even a €30 million damage claim from the team.

The rumor mill began to spin at full speed, with INEOS Grenadiers as the most obvious option. Yet interest from the British formation shifted increasingly toward Oscar Onley, who eventually also signed with INEOS. Fortunately for Gee, Lidl-Trek eventually came up with a lifeline.

"Lidl-Trek is thrilled to announce that Derek Gee-West has signed a three-year contract that will see him race in Lidl-Trek colors through 2028," the team announced in a press release. This brings an end to a period of uncertainty and speculation.

"It’s pretty special to be joining Lidl-Trek," Gee explains himself. "From the outside, you can already see that this is an organisation operating very close to the gold standard in our sport, and that was something that really appealed to me. The ambition, the structure, and the depth of talent across the Team are impressive, and it feels like the right environment for the next phase of my career."

"I’m really looking forward to racing with shared ambitions and multiple options within the team," the Canadian continued. "Lidl-Trek have world-class riders across so many areas of the sport, and being part of a group where we can play different cards in stage races and Grand Tours is something new for me. I’m excited to learn from that, to keep developing as a GC rider, and to see what we can achieve together over the coming years."

Team owner Luca Guercilena is pleased. "Bringing Derek on board is a big boost for us. Over the last three years he has shown an incredibly high level in stage races, and we’re sure we haven’t even seen his limit yet. Derek will have the full support of our performance resources to fully realize his potential."