Fans Argue That Cycling Slaps & Maxim Van Gils Has Just Proved It

Fans of cycling are used to high intensity drama, whether it be accidental collisions during a packed start or on a crowded corner, or even the much loved close sprint finish when there is no clear winner when approaching the final 100 metres of a race. It is not, however, normal practice for two riders to have a pathetic attempt at fisticuffs and a little bit of handbags during a race - but Lotto-Dstny and Maxim Van Gils have had to heavily apologise after they had a rare moment of just that, at the recent Japan Cup criterium last Saturday.

23 year old Van Gils, was unexpectedly caught on camera at the event, and unfortunately for him, that footage showed him delivering a head slap to a fellow rider, who has since become widely identified as Greek rider, Giorgios Bouglas. Van Gils had been named earlier this week as part of Lotto-Dstny's lineup for the 1. HC ranked event, so it is not the perfect start and the popular bookmakers like Bwin and 1xbet will support it. For no deposit betting fans, it is the moment to try their chance and place their bets, if you wondered how to get the no deposit 1xbet promo code, Sportytrader could help you with this, as they provide plenty of information about 1xbet offers and promotions, you can find the latest 1xbet promotions and their terms and conditions.

What makes the entire event more bizarre is the fact the incident happened as the two, part of the main peloton, were actually crossing the line - so obviously cameras would be paying attention.

Ultimately, Bouglas finished eighth, and Van Gils was ranked tenth in the criterium out in Utsunomiya (a city near Tokyo). It is a well liked event on the calendar as it serves as a curtain raiser for the main Japan Cup road race, but this would certainly not have been the headlines they were after this year.

The statement from Lotto-Dstny read.

“We sincerely regret the behaviour of our rider Maxim Van Gils in the Japan Cup Criterium. Maxim and his team want to apologize for his gesture at the end of the race."

Those who have saw the clip will certainly question the use of the word 'gesture'.

For himself, the rider strangely added.

“I deeply regret what I did and I already apologized to the race jury. They gave me a fine (50 CHF) and I will lose some UCI points. The gesture was a reaction to the dangerous behaviour of another rider, but I know that what I did was wrong. It was a reaction in the heat of the moment, but a wrong one and I should not have punched him and kept my hands on the handlebars. I accept the penalty of the UCI and I apologize for what I did. This is also an important lesson for the future to keep myself calm in situations like this and to react in a proper way after the race."

Having been a pro rider since 2021, you would have thought he had already learnt that lashing out at a totally innocent other rider was the kind of thing that you do not do as a professional, but on the other hand, who here reading this has not had a mad and very regrettable moment of their own when they were around his age.

He will have to take his punishment, but if he learns the lesson - given no real harm was done - everyone can move on.