Derek Gee joins Lidl-Trek after securing Israel-Premier Tech exit

Derek Gee has formally completed his move to Lidl-Trek for the 2026 season after freeing himself from his contract with Israel-Premier Tech, now known as NSN Cycling Team.

The news was first reported by Daniel Benson in December, and it has now been confirmed by Lidl-Trek. It is understood that Gee has already spent time with the team at their December training camp in Denia, Spain.

Gee placed fourth overall at the Giro d’Italia but he did not race again in 2025 after his victory at the Canadian Championships road race in June.

In August, Gee issued a statement announcing that he had unilaterally terminated his contract with Israel-Premier Tech. “This was not an easy decision, but one I made after careful consideration and for legitimate reasons,” Gee wrote. “Certain issues simply made my continuation at the team untenable.”

Although Gee was immediately linked with a move to Ineos Grenadiers, he denied that he had been in talks with other teams. Israel-Premier Tech insisted that Gee remained a part of their roster, and the rider later said that the team was seeking €30 million in damages. The case was brought before the UCI Arbitral Board.

On Tuesday, NSN Cycling Team confirmed that Gee had left the team for Lidl-Trek. “NSN Cycling Team has finalised an agreement, approved by the UCI, with Lidl-Trek and Derek Gee-West, which see Gee-West’s existing contract with our team conclude,” read a statement from NSN.

Israel-Premier Tech had pledged to change its name and identity following repeated protests by human rights protestors against their participation at the Vuelta a España amid Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Premier Tech and Factor subsequently withdrew their backing, and the team rebranded as NSN Cycling Team in November.

It is expected that Gee will lead the line for Lidl-Trek at the Giro, while fellow new arrival Juan Ayuso is already pencilled in to target the podium at the Tour de France.

The addition of Gee reinforces an already imposing roster at Lidl-Trek, where Mattias Skjelmose will ride in support of Ayuso at the Tour. Mads Pedersen will target the green jersey at the Tour, while Jonathan Milan will ride the Giro.

“It’s pretty special to be joining Lidl-Trek,” Gee said in a statement on Tuesday. “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. 

“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.”

Lidl-Trek manager Luca Guercilena hailed the arrival of the Canadian. “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,” he said.