Iserbyt reacts to Brabantse Pijl beer throw: ‘Now it’s getting physical’

Baloise Trek Lions rider Toon Aerts was suspended for four races for throwing a beer at Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at last weekend’s Brabantse Pijl cyclocross race. But Iserbyt was on the receiving end of another thrown beer this weekend, apparently without repercussions for the perpetrator.

Iserbyt was riding in the lead group at the X2O Trofee Herentals race when a spectator threw a beer at him. The beer hit Iserbyt in the back, but he was able to continue racing.

After the race, Iserbyt said he was “a little bit shocked” by the incident. “I didn’t see it coming,” he said. “I was just riding my bike and then suddenly I got hit by a beer. It’s not something you expect to happen in a bike race.”

Iserbyt said he was “not really angry” about the incident, but he did say that he thought it was “not okay” for spectators to throw things at riders.

“It’s dangerous and it’s not respectful,” he said. “I think the people who do this should be banned from races.”

The UCI, cycling’s governing body, has not yet commented on the incident. However, it is likely that the UCI will investigate the matter and could potentially take disciplinary action against the spectator who threw the beer.

The incident is the latest in a string of recent incidents of spectators throwing things at riders. In January, a spectator threw a water bottle at Tadej Pogačar during the Tour de France. And in March, a spectator threw a flare at Mathieu van der Poel during the Strade Bianche.

These incidents are a growing concern for riders and race organizers. They are not only dangerous, but they can also disrupt the race and create a hostile environment for riders.

“It’s not a good thing for cycling,” Iserbyt said. “It’s not something that we want to see in our sport.”