Eli Iserbyt receives light fine after shocking altercation with Ryan Kamp in Beringen cross

The cyclocross season could not have started in a more dramatic way. After a few years of internal tensions, Eli Iserbyt and Ryan Kamp almost had a brawl literally on the track of the first big CX race in Beringen this Saturday. We learn that although he has not been suspended, the UCI fined the Belgian after a move that many termed 'disgusting'.

The victory of Lars van der Haar in the first Belgian cross of the winter was largely overshadowed by the shocking incident. Iserbyt and Kamp both crashed during the race and on his way up, Iserbyt stepped on Kamp's bike clearly in a purposeful manner, breaking his derailleur and forcing his former teammate to run into the pits.

Kamp grabbed Iserbyt and reportedly called him (in a Belgium term) 'fucking dwarf' as a response. It was a situation as heated as anyone could've expected, and perhaps didn't turn into a brawl as Iserbyt looked away and attempted to move on as quickly as possible. He was disqualified as a result, with full justification.

On social media many have called for not only a disqualification but also a suspension for behaviour that was heavily termed 'disgusting'. Cyclocross legend Bart Wellens openly said that "an exclusion is not enough, the UCI will have to send a signal" after such an incident, to the rider who has won the World Cup and Superprestige last year.

Het Nieuwsblad reported that, besides the disqualification, Iserbyt was fined 100 Swiss Francs after the incident. Overall this is a very light fine, below even the average fine of littering or accidental public urination during a regular road race. It is argued that the light punishment might've taken into consideration Iserbyt's public admition of wrongdoing both in a post-race interview and on social media.