"Strict but fair" - Cyclocross legend believes Eli Iserbyt had suspension and fine coming after Ryan Kamp clash

On the first big cross of the season in Beringen we had fireworks but not the ones that were initially expected. Eli Iserbyt, one of the leading faces of cyclocross fell together with former teammate Ryan Kamp and then stepped on his bike, breaking the derailleur on purpose. The two had a brief argument, and the Belgian was ultimately suspended and fined heavily, to which Bart Wellens agrees.

It was a very heated moment and one perfectly caught on the TV broadcast. Iserbyt and Kamp tumbled and the incident followed. Kamp lost a lot of time naturally and wasn't able to contest for a result, whilst Iserbyt was disqualified. He was fined 100 Swiss Francs soon after, but that was a very light fine. The week after, the UCI officially fined him €2500 Swiss Francs and suspended him from the next three main races, including a Superprestige Cup round in which he is the defending champion.

“Strict but fair. Three races and a fine of 2,600 euros, that’s not nothing. But a punishment is not a punishment if it is not strict. The UCI also did well to reach a decision quickly, also for Eli," former pro Bart Wellens told Het Nieuwsblad. “I myself was suspended for one month for my karate kick in Overijse, in September of the following season. Back then there were still competitions in September. And yes, then they are after your money, just as they are now after Eli’s money."

With the World Cup featuring less races, but mainly a much more compact calendar this year, ultimately the consequences are not too big. Iserbyt should be back to competition this weekend, ahead of the Koppenbergcross and European Championships that take place in early November.

"Still, it could have been worse. Now he is missing one round of the Superprestige and two Exact Crosses. If they had waited longer, he might have had to miss World Cup rounds and that would have been worse," Wellens concluded.