"Lean into that friction" - Controversy creates value and excitement in cyclocross, former World Cup winner assures
Cyclocross
Eli Iserbyt is a former winner of all three cups in cyclocross; European and national titles. However, the Belgian rider - now retired from the sport - believes that whilst a lot of his value came from his performances, a lot came from his attitude - something that, in the current field, is lacking for most riders.
"There is no budget for cyclocross racers who don't appear on television very often," Iserbyt said on the Wielerflits Magazine. "Sponsors would rather pay an extra 50,000 euros to someone who consistently finishes in the top three than use that same money to bring on an additional rider who only manages such a result a few times a year".
Money is not as available in cycling's winter discipline as it is on the road, and so riders and teams often have to make more complicated decisions. At the time being, the field is less disperse than it had in the past, with fewer bigger figures; and less riders able to match them.
"The available funds keep going to the same few riders. In other words, the gap between those who are doing well and those who are struggling is widening, and we are missing a 'second tier' of riders."
Iserbyt himself was a racer until January of this year, when he was forced to retire due to extensive damage to his femoral artery - caused by several surgeries that looked to improve his medical condition.
Eli Iserbyt during his final year as a cyclocross racer
Iserbyt leaned into the friction and controversy in cyclocross
Iserbyt did however look to improve his value as a public figure, not only by performing throughout the whole winter in cyclocross, but also maintaining open conversations on what he felt - instead of holding it in, unlike most riders, he argues.
"Many of the current crop of riders are too well-behaved. As a result, their media value is too low. Sometimes, you have to lean into that friction a little bit," he explained. "Not everyone has that in them. It was in my own character to stand my ground, so I was being authentic. But many riders today don’t dare to do that anymore".
"I don’t think it’s arrogant at all to state your ambitions on television or in an interview with people like you—or to simply speak your mind. If things don’t go your way afterward, that’s not the end of the world; at least you’ve created an engaging narrative around yourself."
Sponsors don't look for riders who shy away from the spotlight
Iserbyt was a controversial figure even during the latter stages of his career, having been disqualified, fined and later on suspended for three races after the October 2024 Exact Cross in Beringen, in which he was tangled with former teammate Ryan Kamp in a technical section, and deliberately stomped his bike - breaking his derailleur.
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"Look at Sep Vanmarcke and Yves Lampaert in road cycling. They never won the biggest races, but they created value by being themselves and continuing to speak their minds," he argued.
On the opposite, the Belgian argues that riders who keep it to themselves have the opposite effect. "That’s not what sponsors are looking for. Many riders are very one-dimensional. They shy away from social media. They have no story, and that’s a problem. You can’t have a good show without actors."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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