{"id":398060,"date":"2026-01-09T09:53:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T09:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/398060\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T09:53:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T09:53:09","slug":"belgian-two-time-cx-world-cup-series-champion-eli-iserbyt-forced-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/398060\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian two-time CX World Cup series champion Eli Iserbyt forced to retire"},"content":{"rendered":"

A conspicuous absence in cyclocross this season has been Eli Iserbyt<\/a>, the Belgian Pauwels Sauzen rider who twice won the World Cup and Superprestige series and claimed the DVV\/X2O Badkamers Trofee title four times. Having undergone surgery both last February and in the autumn to correct blood-flow restriction in the iliac artery, Iserbyt announced his immediate retirement on Thursday.<\/p>\n

On Instagram<\/a> the 28-year-old wrote, \u201cThe past few weeks I have received the news from multiple doctors that it\u2019s no longer medically advisable for me to ride my bike, recreationally or at a high level. And I\u2019ve always shared the beautiful moments with you but now I wanted to share the bad ones, that unfortunately it is no longer possible for me to continue my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea Eli Iserbyt (28) has announced the end of his cycling career on Instagram. \u201cUnfortunately it\u2019s no longer possible for me to continue my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf9 Instagram: iserbyteli pic.twitter.com\/k42679gLtw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Although not at the top of his game because of the blow-flow problems in his left leg, last season Iserbyt triumphed in four races\u2013his final victory<\/a> at the GP Sven Nys\u2013and won the X2O Badkamers Trofee. He was also fourth in the Superprestige and fifth in the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Iserbyt\u2019s last professional win at the GP Sven Nys in Ball.<\/p>\n

Iserbyt\u2019s career was not without incident. In 2022, he threw a sharp elbow <\/a>at Corne van Kessel. In 2023, he had to avoid a goose hazard<\/a> to win the Flamanville World Cup. At an Exact Cross round in 2024, he was disqualified for stomping on Ryan Kamp\u2019s wheel<\/a> after the two crashed. The UCI also suspended him for three races for the incident. Not long after that, Iserbyt proved that Mathieu van der Poel isn\u2019t the only rider who spectators mess with when someone flung a beer at him<\/a> in the opening round of the 2024-2025 Superprestige series.<\/p>\n