Belgium (far) from finished with Iserbyt saga: "Words Kamp not okay, UCI should not let that pass either"

In Belgium, even a few days after Eli Iserbyt's suspension in cyclo-cross, people can't stop talking about the punishment imposed on the Belgian by Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal. After an incident with Dutchman Ryan Kamp in Beringen, Belgium (on Oct. 12), Iserbyt was eventually suspended for three races. Analysts are discussing it in detail.

Niels Albert writes at the HLN, that he believes the punishment is a bit severe. He agrees with Iserbyt's team, who said earlier that the rider was dealt a severe blow with a disqualification in Beringen, a suspension of three races, and a fine of 2,500 Swiss francs. "I don't want to judge this in black and white. What happened should not have happened, that's for sure. Iserbyt should not have jumped on Ryan Kamp's bike and should not have destroyed his rear wheel and derailleur. That simply is not acceptable," Albert stated.

The big but hangs in the air and immediately follows: "But, knowing Eli, something must have preceded that. Eli is not the man who loses his temper all of a sudden. I have been told - but hearsay often equals lying - that Kamp commented on his stature. Words that are not okay," the rumors continue. "I don't think the UCI should let that pass either. If you start swearing and insulting someone and hurting them in such a way, you also cross a line. A remark about that is also allowed. I think the UCI should also investigate that side of the story. It won't be easy to prove, but it should be examined. Wouldn't there be witnesses to that? Are there no colleagues who can tell more? It almost has to be."

On top of that, Albert considers the sporting consequences of the suspension for Iserbyt "too severe." "He can almost forget about the GC of the Superprestige already. That is a hefty punishment for him and a loss for the whole competition. It's also unfortunate for the organizer and the fans. That's why I opted for a fine. A real fine, a heavy fine. 15,000 euros. Then you, as UCI, signal that it is serious, and with that, you hit the athlete where it hurts the most: in his wallet. Rest assured that such an amount is a deterrent. Riders find that much worse than being unable to race for a weekend."

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Bart Wellens considers punishment for Iserbyt "fair"

In Het Nieuwsblad, cyclo-cross analyst Bart Wellens describes Iserbyt's punishment as "harsh but fair." "Three races and a fine of 2,600 euros, that's no joke. But a punishment is not a punishment if it is not severe. The UCI did the right thing to come to a quick verdict for Eli. I was suspended for my karate kick in Overijse for one month in September of the following season. Then, there were still races in September. And yes, they hit you in the wallet like Eli now."

"Still, it could have been worse," Wellens adds. "Now he misses one heat of the Superprestige and two Exact Crossen. Had they waited longer, he might have missed World Championship races, which would have been worse. Of course, they were not happy in the Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal team, and that is understandable: it was in Ruddervoorde, Eli was a bit of a star. I also understand team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen's disappointment. You're never happy as a team when one of your riders has to step aside, especially if it's your top rider. But they will eventually realize it's better to watch a week now than later in the season."