Israel Premier-Tech signs another Canadian rider to WorldTour team
The Israel-Premier Tech biking workforce added one other Canadian rider to its WorldTour squad, signing Derek Gee to a three-year contract whereas selling him from its academy.
Israel Premier-Tech is residence to Canadian riders Michael Woods, Hugo Houle, Alex Cataford, Guillaume Boivin and James Piccoli. The workforce is co-owned by Canadian-Israeli entrepreneur Sylvan Adams, a former Canadian Masters biking champion who emigrated to Israel in 2015.
Former Canadian star rider Steve Bauer serves as sport director for Israel-Premier Tech, whose lead sponsor Premier Tech is an organization primarily based in Riviere-du-Loup, Que.
Gee, a 24-year-old from Ottawa, joined the Israel Biking Academy earlier his 12 months and turned heads when he completed fifth within the remaining time trial on the Gran Camino race in February in opposition to a aggressive WorldTour-level subject.
“We’re actually glad to welcome Derek Gee to Israel-Premier Tech on a three-year deal, which is an indication of our confidence in him and his skills,” Israel-Premier Tech GM Kjell Carlstrom said in a statement. “He has a formidable background as a observe rider which has given him an incredible base to construct on as a street race.”
“Clearly, Canada is a crucial nation for our workforce and we’re proud to be creating the subsequent technology of Canadian cyclists, and stay up for seeing Derek race with us for the subsequent three years,” he added.
Gee is a 13-time Canadian observe biking champion.
“My experiences with Israel Biking Academy and Israel-Premier Tech up to now have been superb,” stated Gee. “I do know that attending to race with the WorldTour workforce a number of occasions already and the issues I’ve discovered doing that will likely be massively helpful once I take the step up subsequent 12 months.
“The ITT at Gran Camino gave me numerous confidence transferring ahead,” stated Gee. “I nonetheless have quite a bit to work on within the time trial however understanding that getting up there and combating for wins in excessive degree races is one thing that is attainable motivates me massively.
“I am nonetheless looking for the place my strengths are on the street, and I have been given an enormous number of races this 12 months from the workforce to assist me determine that out.”
Gee is the second academy rider to make the soar this 12 months, becoming a member of Italian Marco Frigo.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 20, 2022
