The Israel-Premier Tech biking staff 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 dwelling to Canadian riders Michael Woods, Hugo Houle, Alex Cataford, Guillaume Boivin and James Piccoli. The staff 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 yr and turned heads when he completed fifth within the remaining time trial on the Gran Camino race in February towards a aggressive WorldTour-level area.
"We're actually completely happy to welcome Derek Gee to Israel-Premier Tech on a three-year deal, which is an indication of our confidence in him and his talents," Israel-Premier Tech GM Kjell Carlstrom stated in an announcement. "He has a formidable background as a observe rider which has given him an amazing base to construct on as a highway race."
"Clearly, Canada is a crucial nation for our staff and we're proud to be creating the subsequent technology of Canadian cyclists, and look ahead to 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 thus far have been superb," stated Gee. "I do know that attending to race with the WorldTour staff a number of instances already and the issues I've realized doing that will probably be vastly helpful once I take the step up subsequent yr.
"The ITT at Gran Camino gave me a whole lot of confidence transferring ahead," stated Gee. "I nonetheless have quite a bit to work on within the time trial however figuring out that getting up there and preventing for wins in excessive stage races is one thing that is attainable motivates me vastly.
"I am nonetheless looking for the place my strengths are on the highway, and I have been given an enormous number of races this yr from the staff to assist me determine that out."
Gee is the second academy rider to make the bounce this yr, becoming a member of Italian Marco Frigo.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 20, 2022
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