The NSN Cycling Team, a World Tour squad, has published an apology after one of its riders in its U23 development team struck a member of a rival team during a race in the Netherlands on Saturday.
The rider in question - New Zealand's Kiaan Watts (24) - was on the front of the bunch at Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle (1.2) when he took one hand off the bars and struck a rider to his right.
Aside from the move being completely unacceptable, the pressure was on at the time. The bunch strung out, and the back end of it lined out, as the striking incident was taking place at the front.
Watts is an experienced rider who is in his sixth year competing for UCI Continental teams. He also rode for the Israel Premier Tech World Tour line-up multiple times in recent seasons.
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However, after getting completely carried away on Saturday, when his actions were captured by the TV cameras, he was disqualified from the race. His team has now take the decision to remove him from at least one race, due to his conduct.
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"NSN Development Team deeply regrets the actions of Kiaan Watts at the Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle race," the team said in a statement published on social media.
"The team expects that its riders race in a sporting and professional manner at all times and wishes to extend an apology to Marijn Maas, the BEAT CC p/b Saxo team, race organisers, and the UCI commissaires.
"As a result, the team has decided to remove Kiaan from Dorpenomloop Rucphen tomorrow to give him time to reflect on his actions and the consequences."
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