A Champion's Unforeseen Departure from the Cycling World
A Stellar Career Interrupted by Unseen Adversaries
Eli Iserbyt, the Belgian cyclocross sensation, recently announced his premature departure from the sport. At 28, the former European champion shared with a heavy heart that doctors have advised him to completely cease cycling. This life-altering recommendation stems from a protracted battle with severe blood flow problems.
From Glory to Setback: A Journey Plagued by Injuries
Throughout the 2020s, Iserbyt carved out a name for himself as an exceptionally consistent and thrilling competitor in cyclocross. He proudly earned two U23 world titles, secured two world championship bronze medals, and accumulated 54 elite-level victories, including the Belgian national championship in 2024 and a European title in 2020. His dominance extended to season-long competitions, where he frequently topped the Superprestige or X20 Badkamers Trofee standings, alongside two UCI World Cup triumphs in 2022 and 2024. However, recent seasons introduced a series of debilitating injuries. For three years, Iserbyt suffered from nerve pain in his left leg, which was eventually traced to restricted blood flow in his femoral artery.
The Physical Toll: Nerve Compression and Recovery Attempts
In 2024, Iserbyt's career faced further disruption when he was forced to withdraw from several races due to sciatica. This condition, caused by a compressed intervertebral disc in his lower back, resulted in significant pain in his back and legs. Initially, he attributed these symptoms to Piriformis syndrome. Despite these challenges, he managed to secure four victories during the 2024/25 season, though he had to cut his season short, with his final professional appearance being a sixth-place finish at the Brussels Universities X20 Trofee race.
Surgical Interventions and a Difficult Reality
Following the diagnosis of limited blood flow in his left leg as the root cause of his nerve issues, Iserbyt underwent four surgical procedures in 2025 to rectify the pinched artery. He embarked on an intensive rehabilitation program with hopes of returning to racing in November. Unfortunately, a relapse of his blood flow problems during training sessions halted his comeback plans. Jurgen Mettepenningen, manager of Iserbyt’s team, confirmed the grim outlook, noting a sudden shift from optimism to despair as the old injury resurfaced.
An Emotional Farewell: A Career's Abrupt End
After a series of recent medical evaluations, Iserbyt received the definitive news that his cycling career must end. In a heartfelt Instagram video, he tearfully shared, “The past few weeks, I have received the news from multiple doctors that it’s no longer medically advisable for me to ride my bike, recreationally and competitively.” He expressed his sorrow at sharing such difficult news, emphasizing that continuing his career was no longer an option. Reflecting on his past remarks to road.cc in 2023, Iserbyt had previously highlighted the taxing nature of the condensed cyclocross season, advocating for a more sustainable race calendar to preserve riders' health. His own experience now underscores the critical need for such considerations within the sport.