Derek Gee-West focuses on Giro d'Italia after 'very stressful' transfer saga
Derek Gee-West will lead his new team Lidl-Trek in the upcoming Giro d'Italia. This was reported by El País. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper, Gee-West also spoke about the transfer saga he had been involved in over the past few months.
In August 2025, the Canadian rider announced that despite having a contract with NSN Cycling (the successor of Israel-Premier Tech) until the end of 2028, he would be leaving the team. He later explained that this decision was based on safety concerns and personal convictions regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.
He referred specifically to pro-Palestinian protests related to Israel’s actions in Gaza, which caused unsafe situations in the peloton, especially during the Vuelta a España. However, his employer did not take this lying down and filed a case with the UCI. Gee-West stated that he was facing a damage claim of 30 million euros.
Stressful months
It never came to that, but the whole situation nevertheless led to 'very stressful months' for Gee-West. “This case was a constant worry. I really went through some very dark days, moments when I thought quitting cycling was unfortunately a very real possibility, especially if I had to pay such an amount. The harsh reality was that I — without doing anything illegal, without doing anything I wasn’t allowed to — felt trapped in the system.”
Gee-West also said to El País that it was 'complicated' to share his convictions. “There’s no good way to express your political opinion without it leading to criticism. I didn’t want to use the situation in Gaza as an excuse to get out of my contract. That didn’t feel fair,” said the Canadian, who also found it 'difficult' to watch the protests during the Vuelta from the outside. “You can agree with the demonstrators and at the same time hope your colleagues stay safe.”
“But during that period, I had too much on my mind to really focus on my future. The toughest moment came months later, when the season was ending, the conflict dragged on, and I was heading into 2026 without a clear perspective, without a team.”
Team leader in the Giro
In the end, things worked out for Gee-West. At the beginning of January, Lidl-Trek and NSN announced they had reached an agreement and that the Canadian would continue his career with Lidl-Trek. “I finally feel like a cyclist again and couldn’t be happier. Moreover, I am joining an ideal environment, with a leader like Ayuso, whom I want to support in every way — his ceiling is undoubtedly higher than mine — and with a race calendar perfectly tailored to my capabilities and my late start.”
The main race on that (provisional) calendar is the Giro d’Italia, the race which Gee-West finished fourth overall in last year. This year, he will start as Lidl-Trek’s GC contender. He aims for a podium finish, he told Domestique. The German team will also line up climber Giulio Ciccone and sprinter Jonathan Milan at the start.
In the lead-up to the Italian Grand Tour, Gee-West will contest the Volta ao Algarve and the Tour of Catalonia. After the Giro, the Canadian national championships are also on his schedule. The 28-year-old rider will try to defend his road race title there.
