Rival reacts to Eli Iserbyt suspension: "For me it would have been fine even without the suspension"

Last Saturday at the Exact Cross Beringen, Belgian rider Eli Iserbyt was involved in a crash with Dutchman Ryan Kamp. Frustrated after the incident, Iserbyt reacted by stamping on Kamp’s wheel, an action that led to his immediate disqualification and a fine of 100 Swiss francs. Initially, it seemed that this would be the end of the matter, but earlier today, the UCI announced that Iserbyt would face a three-race suspension along with an additional fine of 2,500 Swiss francs.

Iserbyt, who is 26 years old and the 2020 European cyclo-cross champion, now faces this significant penalty at a crucial point in the season. While his frustration during the race was evident, the aftermath has extended well beyond the competition, with many fans and pundits speculating on the severity of the punishment.

Kamp, who was directly affected by Iserbyt’s actions, has responded to the suspension and offered his thoughts on the incident. Speaking after the Exact Cross Essen, where he finished sixteenth due to some bad luck, the Dutch rider seemed to downplay the severity of the situation.

"It happened," Kamp told Wielerflits. "I can make a fuss about it for a whole week, but the season is still long, so I prefer to focus on that. Iserbyt called on Saturday evening and apologized. I don’t know why I wouldn’t accept that. For me, it was over then."

Despite the UCI’s decision to enforce further penalties, Kamp appears to have moved on from the incident, choosing to focus on the remainder of the cyclo-cross season rather than dwelling on the events of Beringen.

With this suspension, Iserbyt will miss crucial races, and his absence is sure to impact the competition as the season progresses. However, with Kamp’s acceptance of the apology, it seems that at least among the riders, the incident is already behind them.