"We shouldn’t be overly positive": Eli Iserbyt’s career at serious risk as recovery stalls

The cyclocross season is at its peak, with the Christmas period traditionally the busiest window for the sport. All riders are battling in the mud except for one, Eli Iserbyt, who is watching from home, dealing with ongoing pain and mounting frustration.

Iserbyt has been struggling with health issues that have ruled him out for the entire cyclocross season so far. During last season he repeatedly suffered nerve pain in his left leg, which in February led to a diagnosis of a narrowed iliac artery. After a major operation and six weeks of rest, he believed the problem had been solved, but the pain returned when he resumed training in May.

A second surgery followed, one that doctors say addressed the issue more thoroughly but still requires a lengthy recovery. According to his manager Jurgen Mettepenningen, there has been little progress in the condition that has kept the Belgian sidelined for more than a year.

“It’s a bit unfortunate that we can’t bring better news, but in reality there has been little change in Eli’s situation,” Mettepenningen said to Sporza. “The tests have been done at UZ Gent, now we have to wait and see how the specialists assess the situation. It’s waiting, waiting, waiting.”

As the uncertainty drags on, speculation has started to emerge about the possible consequences for the 28-year-old’s career. Is this the end for one of the most successful Belgian riders of his generation? Mettepenningen is not too optimistic.

“I certainly don’t want to say that it will definitely become a dramatic situation, but we also shouldn’t be overly positive. Let’s hope that Eli finds the courage for a miracle to happen and that things still turn out well. But it will be a difficult story," he explained.

There is no clear timeline for recovery, and no certainty a recovery will happen either. The only thing is clear is that we will not see him on the mud this season. “His season is certainly lost, and the summer will also be very difficult. You never know,” he added, before striking a slightly more hopeful note. “Top athletes always recover faster than ordinary people. Maybe things will turn around quickly.”