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Israel – Premier Tech has announced that Derek Gee ain’t going anywhere. In a release on Tuesday, the team announced that he will call IPT home for the foreseeable future. The Canadian has signed a new contract which will see him race with the team until 2028.
Gee, 25, had an incredible Giro, placing second four times, fourth twice, and winning the hearts of cycling fans everywhere. As a result of his stunning ride, the team “was prompted to rip up his current contract and sign a new six-year deal, from 2023 to 2028.”
“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. 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,” IPT owner Sylvan Adam said.
Gee also won the most combative rider classification, as well as placing second in the KOM, second in the sprints, and 22nd overall. Not bad for a Grand Tour debut.
“Having an all WorldTour program to start the year was definitely an amazing experience, to line up at such prestigious races, but I think it really showed the confidence the team had in me and absolutely helped me race with more confidence in myself. The Giro was about as far from what I expected as it gets going in, but it’s been sinking in the last week, the rides that I had there. I’m really happy to be able to show why the team had confidence in me with that calendar and put that on paper with those results,” Gee said.
After Derek Gee’s breakout ride in Italy, how should teams race him?
According to the Ottawa rider, staying with IPT was his ideal choice.
“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. 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,” the Olympian…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…
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