Oscar Riesebeek becomes first rider suspended under UCI's new yellow card system

Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has been suspended for seven days after receiving two yellow cards during the Baloise Belgium Tour, forcing him to miss the upcoming Dutch National Championships in Ede.

The suspension comes after Riesebeek was penalised twice for riding on pavements or bike paths during the race, violations explicitly prohibited under UCI regulations. The Dutch rider received his first yellow card on stage 2, before a second on stage 5, on 22 June. The suspension takes place immediately, meaning that Riesebeek will be eligible to return to competition on 30 June.

Riesebeek will not only be licking his wounds metaphorically, as the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider came down in a heavy crash on stage 5 after trying to return to the road, having used the bike path to try and move past others. His team confirmed that he underwent medical examinations following the incident, though the extent of his injuries remains unclear.

The incidents have also left Riesebeek with the unwanted title of becoming the first cyclist suspended under the UCI's new yellow card system, which was implemented earlier this year.

The only previous suspension under these regulations was handed to Moto Press Pilot Joseba Etxaburu Gandiaga, who received two yellow cards during La Vuelta Femenina.

Riesebeek will be unable to compete at the Dutch National Championships but should be cleared to return to racing by 30 June, provided he has recovered from any injuries sustained in the crash on stage 5 at the Baloise Belgium Tour.

Under the current rules, accumulating two yellow cards in a single race results in disqualification plus a seven-day suspension beginning the day after the final card is issued. Starting in January 2025, the penalty structure will expand to include longer suspensions for multiple infringements:

• 3 yellow cards within 30 days will result in a 14-day suspension
• 6 yellow cards within a year will trigger a 30-day suspension

The 21 race incidents concerned are listed in Article 2.12.007 of the UCI regulations, where Race Commissaires can issue yellow cards for any offence that may pose a risk to the safety of the race.

A full overview of yellow cards and rules can be found here.