Cyclist Handed 25-Day Ban for On-Race Altercation

The governing body of world cycling has imposed a 25-day ban on New Zealand cyclist Kiaan Watts following an incident where he punched a fellow competitor during a recent race. Footage of the event, which took place on March 7 at the Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle race in the Netherlands, shows Watts, 24, striking Dutch cyclist Marijn Maas in the head. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed that Watts has accepted the suspension, which will be in effect until May 2. In a statement, the UCI outlined that the suspension period includes a one-day ban imposed by Watts' team on March 8. Watts has since apologized for his actions on social media, attributing them to a moment of intense emotion. His team, the NSN Development Team, has also issued a formal apology for the incident. The team emphasized its expectation for riders to maintain a professional and sporting demeanor at all times, extending apologies to Maas, the BEAT CC/p Saxo team, race organizers, and UCI officials.