Canadian cyclist Derek Gee was rewarded for his excellent performance in the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday after signing a long-term agreement with the Israel Premier-Tech team.

The 25-year-old Ottawan was promoted to the Israel-Premier Tech pro team in May 2022, after signing a three-year pact allowing him to leave the academy. On Tuesday, Israel Premier-Tech mentioned that under the new deal Gee will remain with the team until the conclusion of the 2028 season.

“We knew Derek had tremendous potential when we presented him with an offer to join our continental U23 program a few years ago,” Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams said in a statement. . However, at the ‘Giro’ this year, Derek demonstrated his intelligence and his ability to compete with the best riders in the world in a professional peloton. »

Gee shone in Italy last month in his first major event of his career, finishing second four times and fourth on two occasions. He finished 22nd overall in the Tour of Italy, in addition to finishing second in the points (behind Italian Jonathan Milan) and climbers (behind Frenchman Thibaut Pinot) standings.

The representative of the maple leaf was also named the “super combative rider” of the Giro.

The Premier-Tech team also includes Ontarian Michael Woods as well as Quebecers Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin. Former Canadian star cyclist Steve Bauer is the sports director of the team whose main sponsor, Premier Tech, is based in Rivière-du-Loup.