"We don't want someone with Tour de France ambitions" - Pauwels Sauzen look for pure crosser to replace Eli Iserbyt

Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw has had the loss of Eli Iserbyt be confirmed this week, and the Belgian team is now looking for a replacement for the Belgian. The team wants to remain on top of the cyclocross world, and can be one of the big players in the upcoming transfer market.

"It was definitely coming, but that doesn't make it any less painful," team boss Jurgen Mettepenningen shared in words to Het Nieuwsblad. "When I got the news from Eli last night that it was definitely over, the world stood still for a moment. Tears were shed".

Iserbyt was forced to end his career after undergoing four surgeries this year that ultimately couldn't solve the iliac artery issue that had developed. Either pain or lack of sensation often affected him during high-end efforts. However at the time being, even moderate exercise causes him a great deal of pain, making it impossible to continue spending time on the bike - professionally and recreationally.

"Even though it was already clear that it would be a very difficult story, you still hope for a miracle," Mettepenningen explained. "Medically, there wasn't anything they could do at that point; we had to hope that the blood circulation would improve naturally. That didn't happen. There wasn't a glimmer of hope at any point, despite asking five specialists for their opinions."

The decision was only made when there was no way around it. In early November Iserbyt attempted to return to training but couldn't put any intensity to it, and at this point in time he can no longer undergo further surgeries to the artery.

"The problem with that narrowing was that there was already so much scar tissue around it that surgery was impossible. When I drove here this morning, I was still on the phone with a specialist. He said 'you can do whatever you want, it won't get better. Eli's body is at stake, and there's no point in undergoing another operation.' Another operation would only make matters worse. Eli's body has been declared 'unfit for sports.' And this while he should be at his peak at 28".

Iserbyt could potentially stay in the team as a staff member or management role, but that is only to be decided after the season is over. "That was definitely discussed. Just now. But now we're going to let everything rest for a while. We're both going to need to recover – especially Eli, of course, because it's his career. But we are too, because we've lost our leader. But the intention is to sit down with him within two to three months and see if he can take on a position within the team. He's already indicated that he'd be interested in taking on a management role."

The team signed Gerben Kuypers into its CX ranks recently, however it will have to look into the market once more to try and find an optimal replacement for Iserbyt, a two-time World Cup and Superprestige winner; four time X2O Badkamers Trofee winner; and a rider whose won European and national titles before in his career.

However, the team is looking down a narrower list, as they seek someone who will put their full focus on the discipline, and not on the road. "I need a cyclocross rider par excellence, a true Eli Iserbyt type. Someone who can be seen in the field from early October until Oostmalle in February. I don't need an Emiel Verstrynge or Thibau Nys. I say that with great respect, because they are top riders, but our structure isn't like that. We are a cyclocross team. We don't want someone with Tour de France ambitions".