Dutch riders caught cheating in Tour de Guadeloupe
Two Dutch club riders have been disqualified from the Tour de Guadeloupe after being caught sneaking back into the peloton from behind a car - an incident captured on video and widely shared on social media.
The incident occurred during the second stage of the Caribbean race, where Niels Tenninglo and Huub van Kapel, both riding for GRC Jan van Arckel, were distanced from the main group after suffering misfortune on the local circuits.
Instead of abandoning or continuing at their own pace, the two riders were filmed hiding behind a car before quietly slipping back into the peloton a lap later. The footage, captured by a roadside spectator, quickly went viral. Their race numbers, 74 and 75, were identified by viewers and later confirmed by race officials.
According to Frédéric Théobald, president of the Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee, the jury had already seen them leave the back of the race but hadn’t yet matched them to their bib numbers. “Then a friend of mine told me it was the riders with numbers 74 and 75,” Théobald explained to the local website La Première. “Shortly after that, I received two videos that confirmed this big charade.”
He didn’t mince his words when speaking to the press. “This is very serious!” he said. “The commissaire excluded them during the race. They continued, but they were excluded.” As per UCI rules, both riders were fined 100 Swiss francs and lost 20 UCI points, but the damage to their reputations - and that of their team - may be harder to repair.
#TDG😱😩🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️Tour cycliste de #Guadeloupe 2025 : "C'est très grave !" 2 coureurs exclus pour avoir rejoint le peloton sans faire tout le parcours de la 2e étape sous les yeux du commissaire ➕d'infos👉🏾 https://t.co/zAQuIEpYbYpic.twitter.com/35cVeIxYK8
— Guadeloupe la 1ère (@guadeloupela1e) August 4, 2025
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Théobald made clear that more riders are under investigation for irregular behaviour, including holding onto cars to gain an advantage. “Cycling is a sport that is practised by pedalling and holding onto your handlebars - your handlebars and nothing else… It’s dangerous,” he said, stressing the seriousness of the behaviour.
Théobald confirmed that a report has been submitted to the UCI, who may consider further disciplinary action. The Tour de Guadeloupe, a UCI 2.2-classified event, mixes Continental and amateur teams in a tropical but challenging setting. Yet despite the scenery and the racing, this year’s edition will be remembered for something far less picturesque.
