Birdwatching, basketball and big dreams: Inside the world of Derek Gee
Now aged 28, Gee stresses that it is not lost on him how fortunate he is to have a professional contract, but he also wants to focus on what comes next.
“It’s nice to never take it for granted. You see a lot of pros now who made it when they were 18 and it’s all they’ve ever known. I’ve already fulfilled my childhood dream and the goalposts keep moving, but it’s nice to keep that perspective.”
So where on the proverbial pitch are Gee’s goalposts in 2026? He has his eyes set on becoming a general classification star, eventually leading Lidl-Trek to a Grand Tour podium. While he might have made a name for himself chasing individual stage victories, the GC structure project is one that appeals to him, especially on a squad where he doesn’t feel too much pressure as the sole leader.
“It’s a nice balance here because we have such a multi-dimensional team. Like at the UAE Tour, I was the GC leader but then on other days I got to be part of a team that was winning in sprints and contribute to that. That was really cool,” Gee reflects.
“The level of success this team has reached in every discipline is impressive. The Grand Tour general classification seems like a really interesting project, especially with the signing of Juan [Ayuso] and the big goals the team has. To be a part of that is something that is very exciting to me.”
Scoring the slam dunk of a podium in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia or Vuelta a España one day is what keeps Gee getting up and training everyday, but even if he reaches those lofty ambitions, he’ll always remember where he’s come from. The science lab at university, the afternoons watching the Tour with his dad, the home trainer sessions as the heavy snow fell outside, were all part of the making of Derek Gee.
“As well as getting a Grand Tour podium before I retire, I want to perform at GP Montreal. It would mean a lot to me, it’s two hours from where I grew up and with the home crowd, it holds a place in my heart. Home will always be special to me.”
Words by Rachel Jary
