Belgian cyclo-cross champion Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) has had his season affected once again by nerve pain in his back.

The 27-year-old arrived in Namur looking to win the UCI World Cup overall after winning the series for the second time last year.

However, the brutal nature of the steep and slippery banking created some intense sections that once again plagued Yzerbito.

From the opening lap, the Pauwels-Sausen-Bingor rider struggled with the steep run-up and dropped out of the pack, dropping to 24th by lap 2, holding his leg and looking uncomfortable.

After changing machines, the Belgian rider exited the race, missing out on valuable series points.

Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal team boss Jürgen Mettepenningen told Het Nieuwsblad: “It's a nasty injury. It's the same injury as last year. It's a muscle pressing on a nerve that causes a lot of pain. It's not so bad while I'm cycling, but when I start walking it gets worse."

”It was good for a while, but now the problem is back.

“Now I'm going to have a physical therapist treat it and then I hope it will improve,” Metteningen added.

Iserbitt had been suffering from nerve pain after crashing the day before, after finishing fifth in the X20 Trophy in Helentals.

He told IDLProCycling.com

“I had it three years ago and now it is under control, but sometimes it comes back. That's what it is now. It has to do with a nerve that runs from my back to my left leg, and it's hard for me to give it my all."

He also said, ”I've had a lot of pain in my back.

The injury first flared up in Namur in 2022, forcing him to abandon the European Championships after dominating the first half of that season.

An MRI scan confirmed that he suffered from sciatica in his back.

“I love racing cross and I want to run a lot if I can,” Iserbitt said in a statement at the time.

“So I'm happy to keep doing that. A fall or an unexpected move can cause a temporary relapse, but it can't make the injury worse."

‘I've been running for a while now, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that anymore,’ he said.

“I was already working hard: visiting a physical therapist a couple of times a week, spending a lot of time on back exercises, and hiring a masseuse for every cross race to relax the muscles in my left leg right before the start.”

“From now on, I plan to spend even more time doing the necessary back exercises and visit my physical therapist even more often.”

Namur has been a disappointment throughout Iserbito's career, with only one of his 106 career wins coming on the treacherous Belgian course.

As a senior rider, Yzerbito has never finished on the podium and has lost significant points to his rivals in the overall series.

Both men and women crashed in Namur, with Gerben Kuipers and Pim Lonhar suffering major crashes.

European champion Tibau Nys also lost time with two punctures and finished 11th.

Meanwhile, Toon Arts, back from a doping suspension, looked headed for a landmark victory. However, he crashed on the last lap on the famously difficult Off Camber section, losing out on second place.

World Cup leader Michael Vanthourenhout had no such problems on the steep banks of Namur, and took advantage of Art's mistake to win and extend his series advantage.

Vanhollenhout had previously won World Cup and European Championships on the Belgian course and once again kept his cool amidst the mayhem to take the win.

The 31-year-old had also won the X20 Trophy in Herentals the day before.

“Luck was on my side, and maybe luck will be on my side when the conditions are right,” Vanthourenhout said.

“I felt incredible this weekend.

Vanthourenhout leads the World Cup series by 27 points over Aerts, while Iserbitt is in fourth place by 43 points.