Cycling fans have called on the UCI to take action after a pro cyclist appeared to punch a rival rider during a race in the Netherlands this afternoon.
While the majority of the cycling world was focused on events at Strade Bianche in Italy, there was also racing action in the Netherlands at the UCI 1.2 Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle, a one-day race mainly featuring Continental teams and WorldTour outfits’ development squads.
One of those development squads’ riders, competing for the NSN Cycling team, was caught on camera throwing a blow at a rival rider during the heat of the battle, the punch far from subtle as the pair raced at the head of the peloton in full view of the TV motorbike.
Hey @UCI_cycling we already have red cards as well? #stervanzwolle pic.twitter.com/fQAuNkiRlI
— Kelvin Dekker (@kelvindekker) March 7, 2026
The footage has since been widely shared on social media, fans and figures from across the sport reacting with shock and demanding the UCI takes disciplinary action.
According to the official UCI results list from the event, one NSN Cycling rider, Kiaan Watts, was disqualified although it has not yet been confirmed if that disqualification was for this incident or a different infringement.
Beat CC p/b Saxo’s Marijn Maas was the other rider involved, the Dutchman making a late attack before teammate David Dekker sprinted to a third-place finish. NSN Cycling, the UCI, nor the race’s organisers have yet commented on the incident.
A sports director, Kelvin Dekker, shared video footage of the punch on social media and urged the UCI to act.
“Hey @UCI_cycling we already have red cards as well?” he asked. The one-day race based out of the Dutch city Zwolle was won by Mathis Avondts.
Back at the 2014 Vuelta, Gianluca Brambilla and Ivan Rovny kicked off the race for mid-stage fighting.
Similarly, during the 2018 Tour de France, Gianni Moscon was disqualified following a report he had punched another rider.
At the time Dave Brailsford apologised for the Team Sky rider’s conduct, stating: “Gianni is desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knows that he has let himself, the team and the race down. We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken. I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident.”