AdminAlpecin-Deceuninck’s Oscar Riesebeek etched his name into an unwanted chapter of cycling history during the 2025 Baloise Belgium Tour, becoming the inaugural rider penalized under the UCI’s newly instituted yellow card system.
After receiving his second yellow card, the 32-year-old Dutch competitor will now have to forgo participation in his National Championships.
Earlier in the race, Riesebeek had been assessed a yellow card on stage 2. On the final day of the Belgian stage race as the riders approached Brussels, the Alpecin-Deceuninck athlete found himself engaged in a positioning struggle with competitors from INEOS Grenadiers. However, rather than utilizing the road, Riesebeek rode along the outer pavement. In his attempt to re-enter the road, he failed to find sufficient room, lost control of his bicycle, and crashed at high speed, leading to his abandonment of the race.
Recently, Riesebeek has addressed the situation surrounding his second yellow card and the week-long suspension imposed by the UCI. “I accept the consequences of my actions,” he stated in a message shared on Alpecin-Deceuninck’s social media platforms. “Naturally, it’s disappointing to miss the Nationals, but in retrospect, I recognize that my conduct during the race was not only incorrect but also endangered other competitors, and I genuinely regret that and apologize. The regulations are explicit. If enforced uniformly, I completely respect that. I will now take some time to rest and prepare for my upcoming objectives. “
Although Riesebeek has not specified his forthcoming goals, it is widely anticipated that he will participate in the Tour de France for the first time this summer, where he is expected to provide essential support for riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen as Alpecin-Deceuninck aims for stage victories.
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