Eli Iserbitt's 2024-25 cyclocross got off to an inauspicious start last week when the Belgian was disqualified from the first race of the season, the Exactocross in Bellingen, for deliberately stepping on rival Ryan Camp's (Phoenix Deceuninck) bike.

And now the Belgian has been further punished, with the UCI banning him for three races.

Yzerbito's Pauwels-Sausen-Bingor team confirmed the suspension on Saturday, announcing that the UCI had decided to suspend the reigning Belgian and UCI World Cup champion.

Yzerbito and Camp crashed together on a muddy downhill as they chased across the lead group of five on the fifth of eight laps in Bellingen. After picking up his bike, Yzerbito went over Camp's bike and trampled the Dutchman's canyon.

Camp then grabbed Yzerbito and the two exchanged words before struggling to get going again. Yzerbito rejoined Ridley and rode off first, forcing Kamp to run to the pits to change bikes. [Camp finished in 22nd place, 3:50 behind winner Lars van der Haar (Valoise Trek Lions).

Yzerbit, who finished second in the Kermis Cross in Ardlui on Thursday, will miss this weekend's Exakt Cross in Essen and the Superprestige in Rudervoorde.

“Eli Yzerbit will miss this weekend's Essen and Rudervolde. He will also miss Helderstrand in the Netherlands, where the UCI has imposed a three-race suspension on a rider from Pauwels Sausen Bingaard for a slip-up in the opening cross in Beringen,” Pauwels Sausen Bingaard announced.

“Eli Yzerbito was taken out of the race during the Exacto Cross in Beringen. The Pauwels-Sausen-Bingor rider crashed along with the other riders. After the race, Yzerbito was fined 100 Swiss francs.

“Eli Yzerbitt apologized to the rider concerned after the race, while the UCI announced additional sanctions. This means that he will miss the Ixact Cross in Essen, the Telenet Superprestige in Ruderbord, and the race in Helderstrand, the Netherlands. In addition, he will be fined CHF 2,500 [£2,215].

Jürgen Mettenningen, team manager of Pauwels Sauzen Bingaard, noted that the UCI “could have solved this in a different way” and hoped that the previous punishment had been sufficient.

“Eli has already apologized publicly, as well as to Camp himself. 'I had hoped that his punishment of disqualification and a fine had already been completed. This additional sanction will affect his ranking in the Superprestige.

“Furthermore, Eli will lose his starting fee, which is unfortunate for the organizers of these three races, and the UCI could have found a more alternative solution.”