“I was very uncomfortable for one or two laps. » Eli Iserbyt has what it takes. While participating in the Koppenbergcross, a race where he was aiming for victory, the Belgian cyclo-cross rider received a glass of beer in the face from a spectator. “I got the contents of the cup in the face. I had to regain my concentration and it took a while,” he told the media on site, despite finishing second behind Dutchman Lars van der Haar.
“There were a lot of people who enjoyed the race. It’s a shame that someone would do such a thing,” lamented the 3rd place finisher at the 2023 world championships. The individual was immediately arrested by the police according to organizer Christophe Impens: “We are still looking at the images of television very closely during the cross country. Especially with regard to the safety of the public and the runners. The beer thrower was clearly visible and less than three minutes after the incident he was arrested by police. This beer thrower must be punished. We cannot let this go. This kind of behavior must be banned.” A fine for assault and battery has so far been given to him.
It remains to be seen the motives of the principal concerned. Belgian Eli Iserbyt is best known this season for deliberately crashing the wheel of Dutchman Ryan Kamp, after a collision with the latter in October. He was then suspended for three races before making his return.
