Belgian cyclocross rider Eli Iserbyt has been handed a three-race suspension by the UCI following an incident during the Exact Cross race in Beringen. The reigning Belgian and UCI World Cup champion, riding for Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, was disqualified from the race after stomping on Ryan Kamp’s bike following a crash.
The incident occurred during the fifth lap of the race, with both riders crashing on a muddy descent as they chased the lead group. Iserbyt, after remounting his bike, stepped on Kamp’s bike, damaging the Dutchman’s Canyon and forcing him to run to the pits for a bike change. Kamp finished 22nd, while Iserbyt was later disqualified by an official in the pits.
Iserbyt has since apologised to Kamp, but the UCI has now imposed a further sanction, suspending him from three races: the Exact Cross in Essen, the Superprestige in Ruddervoorde, and a race at Heerderstrand in the Netherlands. Along with the suspension, Iserbyt has also been fined 2,500 Swiss francs (£2,215).
Speaking on the matter, Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen expressed his disappointment, believing that the initial disqualification and fine should have been sufficient. “Eli has already apologised publicly, as well as to Kamp himself,” he explained. “I had hoped that his punishment with a disqualification and fine was already behind him. This additional sanction will affect the Superprestige ranking. In addition, Eli also misses out on starting fees, and this is also a shame for the organisers of these three races. The UCI could have solved this differently.”
Iserbyt, who finished second at the Kermiscross in Ardooie prior to the suspension, will miss the races this weekend but is expected to return to competition at Overijse.
