{"id":449826,"date":"2026-02-28T06:33:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/449826\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T06:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:33:22","slug":"good-bye-eli-iserbyt-photo-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/449826\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Bye Eli Iserbyt &#8211; Photo Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Eli Iserbyt Tribute Photo Gallery: In January this year, Belgian cyclocross rider Eli Iserbyt had to announce his early retirement from the sport. Iserbyt had a very successful career in the mud, photographer John Thomson witness many of his top rides and has put together this tribute to one of the best crossers.<\/p>\n<p>As a junior, he won the silver medal at the 2015 cyclocross World Championships. He won the gold medal in the men\u2019s under-23 at the 2016 cross championships in Heusden-Zolder and then repeated his victory in the 2017 UEC European cross champs in T\u00e1bor. In 2018 he took the gold medal again in the under-23 event at the World Championships in Valkenburg. In the professional ranks he was one of the few riders who could battle with the top riders; Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock. In February 2025, Iserbyt had surgery to a groin artery, and despite attempts to fix the circulation problems and nerve compression on his hip, he announced his retirement on the 8th of January 2026 at the age of 28. His doctors told him that it was \u201cmedically no longer responsible\u201d for him to continue cycling, \u201crecreationally, sportively, and at a high level\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>*** You can <a href=\"https:\/\/pezcyclingnews.com\/author\/john-t\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">see the full archive of John Thomson\u2019s photo galleries HERE<\/a>. ***<\/p>\n<p>John Thomson: With the Cobbled Classics coming up, what better time for a cyclocross gallery. Paying homage to Eli Iserbyt, a certified cross legend who was forced to call time on a brilliant career. Also Tom and Lars, two absolute top crossers heading into retirement and good news for the fast men in Abu Dhabi in 2028.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-eli-iserbyt-worlds-hoogerheide23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393347\"  \/><br \/>Eli got a podium finish behind Mathieu and Wout at the 2023 Hoogerheide Worlds<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-eli-iserbyt-overijse19.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393348\"  \/><br \/>Cornering at Overijse in 2019<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-eli-iserbyt-overijse16.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393349\"  \/><br \/>As U23 World Champion at Overijse in 2016<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4-eli-iserbyt-mol23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393350\"  \/><br \/>At Mol in 2023<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5-eli-iserbyt-euc-namur22.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393351\"  \/><br \/>The European Championships at Namur in 2022<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6-eli-iserbyt-gp-mario-de-clercq19.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1300\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393352\"  \/><br \/>Riding a sticky course at the GP Mario De Clercq in 2019<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/7-eli-Iserbyt-ruddervoorde22.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393353\"  \/><br \/>Winning at Ruddervoorde in 2022<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8-eli-iserbyt-antwerp23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393354\"  \/><br \/>At the Scheldecross Antwerpen in 2023<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/9-eli-iserbyt-diegem23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393355\"  \/><br \/>A podium behind Mathieu and Tom at Diegem in 2023<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/10-eli-iserbyt-namur23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393356\"  \/><br \/>Battling at Namur in 2023<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/11-eli-iserbyt-koppenbergcross22.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1350\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393357\"  \/><br \/>2nd behind Lars at the 2022 Koppenbergcross<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/12-eli-iserbyt-essen16.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1350\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393358\"  \/><br \/>As U23 World Champion winning at Essen in 2016<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13-eli-iserbyt-maasmechelen22.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393359\"  \/><br \/>A podium finish at Maasmechelen in 2022<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/14-eli-iserbyt-overijse19.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393360\"  \/><br \/>At Overijse in 2019 with his fan club<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/15-eli-iserbyt-overijse16.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393361\"  \/><br \/>At Overijse in 2016<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/16-mathieu-van-der-poel-herentals23.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393362\"  \/><br \/>Eli was fortunate and unfortunate to ride in the era of the greatest of all time<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/17-tom-meeusen-essen16.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393363\"  \/><br \/>Another absolute top crosser. The Ice Man Tom Meeusen is for sure calling time on his pro cross career<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/18-lars-van-der-haar-koppenbergcross22.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393364\"  \/><br \/>Lars van der Haar calling time on a great cross career. Here winning the 2022 Koppenbergcross as European Champion<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/19-top-sprinters.jpg\" alt=\"Eli Iserbyt Gallery\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-393365\"  \/><br \/>Jasper, Jonathan and Tim will have an eye on the 2028 Abu Dhabi World Championships!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>*** Stay PEZ for John Thomson\u2019s next big photo gallery. ***<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n            Like PEZ?  Why not subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates and reminders on what&#8217;s cool in road cycling? &#13;\n        <\/p>\n<p>            <a href=\"https:\/\/pezcyclingnews.com\/newsletter-signup\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUBSCRIBE-button.gif\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eli Iserbyt Tribute Photo Gallery: In January this year, Belgian cyclocross rider Eli Iserbyt had to announce his&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":449827,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,99799,115060,28835,162941,89612,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-449826","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-cyclocross","10":"tag-eli-iserbyt","11":"tag-now-on-pez","12":"tag-pelopics","13":"tag-photo-gallery","14":"tag-sports","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}