"Sad to compete like this": Iserbyt is unaware of any wrongdoing after sharp criticism from Roodhooft

Eli Iserbyt booked his second victory of the season Saturday in Kortrijk. After the race, the cyclist told his story and also responded to Christoph Roodhooft's sharp criticism of the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal tactics.

"This victory pleases me a lot," Iserbyt said in the flash interview. "I felt excellent during the race. I attacked a few times, together with Michael (Vanthourenhout, ed.). We rode perfectly as a team today. He also deserved to be on the podium today," Iserbyt said. Vanthourenhout eventually finished third.

Iserbyt noticed he was the better rider in the front. "In the group, it was always just a bit too slow for me. However, it was hard to make a difference with the strong wind. Once I was riding in the lead, it worked. Also, because sometimes it fell stagnant in the back."

So the Iserbyt-Vanthourenhout tandem struck again. "Before the race, we agreed not to maintain the pace but to attack. In the past races, we set the pace, and the rest just sat in the wheel. That's just not the right tactic. Now that there are a lot of good riders at the start, attacking and helping each other if we can is the best way."

Iserbyt responds with composure to sharp criticism from Roodhooft

Manager of Alpecin-Deceuninck Roodhooft expressed his irritation with the riding of Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout during the Sporza broadcast. "Those guys from Mettepenningen (Jurgen, ed.) constantly obstruct the other riders. Sad to compete like this." Obstruction, I don't know.... "It's not that we squeezed the brakes," Iserbyt is unaware of any wrongdoing. "I think every attack was an attack, setting a faster pace. And riding two against two, two from the same team against two from another, that's a little more difficult."

Iserbyt even has advice for the contenders. "But anyway, I think applying tactics's up to them because the races are getting faster and faster. The courses are also becoming less technical. Then it's pure riding in a group. That makes it more difficult," he explained his and Vanthourenhout's tactical riding.

Iserbyt seemed to break away earlier in the race but got in his own way. "But I went ... I'm not allowed to say it, but I messed up stupidly. It was a weird corner, but you know that. I went just a little too fast. My second attack was the right one. Given the difference in seconds, I was the better one today."

Iserbyt hopes for a nice race in the sand of Antwerp

Sunday is the first World Cup in Antwerp, and the next appointment is for Iserbyt. "This win feels very good. The most important part of this season comes now, with the World Cup, so this is good for the mind. Tomorrow will be a challenging race. Sand crosses are difficult for me. But I hope to do well."

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