Belgian Cyclocross Champion Eli Iserbyt Suspended After Collision; Faces Major Setback in Superprestige Series
October 22, 2024Iserbyt expressed regret for his impulsive actions during an award ceremony, acknowledging that his behavior was unacceptable for a champion.
Former cyclocross champion Bart Wellens criticized the UCI's penalties as insufficient, suggesting that harsher consequences were necessary to send a clear message.
This incident marks an unfortunate start to Iserbyt's 2024-25 cyclocross season, impacting his performance and reputation.
Mettepenningen also expressed outrage at the timing of the UCI's suspension announcement, criticizing their professionalism.
Eli Iserbyt, the Belgian cyclocross national champion, has been suspended for three races and fined 2,500 Swiss francs following a collision with Dutch rider Ryan Kamp during the Exact Cross in Beringen.
The incident occurred when Kamp attempted to overtake Iserbyt, leading to a crash that left both riders frustrated; Iserbyt reacted by damaging Kamp's derailleur.
The suspension significantly impacts Iserbyt's standings in the Superprestige series, as he will miss key races, including those in Essen and Ruddervoorde.
Despite the suspension, team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen noted that the situation could have been worse if Iserbyt had faced a longer ban or missed World Cup rounds.
Ryan Kamp accepted Iserbyt's apology, deeming the suspension unnecessary and indicating he was ready to move on from the incident.
Iserbyt is expected to return to competition shortly, as the World Cup calendar is more compact this year.
Iserbyt's suspension not only affects his career but also has implications for race organizers and fan attendance at events where he will be absent.
Initially, Iserbyt was disqualified and fined 100 Swiss francs immediately after the incident, but the UCI later imposed a more significant penalty.
Summary based on 4 sources
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Sources
Cyclingnews • Oct 19, 2024
Eli Iserbyt handed three-race ban for stomp on Ryan Kamp's bikeCyclingUpToDate.com • Oct 21, 2024
Anger from Eli Iserbyt’s team after UCI suspension: “The consequences are really far reaching”CyclingUpToDate.com • Oct 21, 2024
"Strict but fair" - Cyclocross legend believes Eli Iserbyt had suspension and fine coming after Ryan Kamp clashIDLProcycling • Oct 21, 2024
Team boss reacts furious at Iserbyt suspension: "You cannot punish someone twice for the same incident"