Eli Iserbyt's first race back from suspension confirmed - Belgian to race this weekend after breaking rival's bike

Eli Iserbyt had his first race of the season in Berigen and he made the fatal mistake of breaking a former teammate's bike deliberately. Despite apologizing, in person and in public, the unusual act saw him handed a large fine and also a three-race suspension (besides being disqualified from the one he was present in). However, he will be back earlier than expected.

What happened was that Iserbyt received a three-race suspension. This is an open statement, but essentially it referred to the Belgian and Dutch crosses that took place last weekend and this week. He missed the Exact Cross Essen and Superprestige Ruddervoorde, and the team's announcement also indicated he would miss the Exact Cross Heerderstrand. This will not happen, as he will take part in the race this Saturday.

"The UCI has announced that Eli Iserbyt will be allowed to participate in the race in the Dutch Heerderstrand", the team communicated. "The International Cycling Union initially imposed a one-week suspension on the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider, which meant he could not start in three races, but only now provided more clarity about the exact end date of his punishment."

It could be argued that the third race is not this Saturday's event, but instead this night's Nacht van Woerden which comes with just as much - if not more - prestige than this weeke's events. However the team clarified that the suspension was actually of one week, and not of three races precisely.

"This will expire on Friday instead of Saturday, which means that, contrary to the UCI's earlier communication, he will appear at the start in Heerderstrand on Saturday," the team confirmed. This Sunday he should be present in Overijse for the second round of the race, after having missed the first.