During the Japan Cup Criterium this Saturday, footage showed Lotto Dstny cyclist Maxim Van Gils assaulting Greek cyclist Giorgios Bouglas from the Matrix Powertag continental team. “The gesture was a response to the dangerous behavior of the other cyclist, but I know that what I did was wrong,” Van Gils himself stated.
According to journalist Benji Naesen, Georgios Bouglas allegedly pushed a Jayco-AlUla cyclist in the final kilometers, causing Van Gils to nearly fall. The Belgian reacted just before the finish line, delivering a strong blow to the back of the Greek cyclist’s neck.
The team apologizes
“We regret the behavior of our cyclist Maxim Van Gils in the Japan Cup Criterium. Maxim and the team would like to apologize for his actions at the end of the race,” the statement read. Van Gils added, “I deeply regret what I did and have already apologized to the race jury. They fined me (50 CHF) and I will lose some UCI points.”
“I accept the UCI’s punishment and apologize for what I did. This is also an important lesson for the future, to keep calm in these kinds of situations and react well after the race,” concluded the Belgian cyclist.