Riesebeek received his first yellow card during the second stage of the Beloise Belgium Tour last week, before receiving a second yellow card during the fifth stage on Sunday. Both infringements had to do with "use of sidewalks/pavements, paths or cycle lanes that do not form part of the race course."
The 32-year-old Dutchman caught attention on social media for his erratic driving in the fifth stage of the Belgian tour. Seen cycling on the sidewalk, Riesebeek tried to merge back onto the road by barging into a fellow rider. The Dutchman fell and had to abandon the rest of the race.
His team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, released a statement on Monday stating they and Riesebeek have accepted "the correct and justified decision" to suspend Riesebeek until June 30th.
“I accept the consequences of my actions,” Riesebeek said in the statement. “Of course, it’s disappointing to miss the Nationals, but looking back, I realise my behaviour in the race was not only wrong but also put fellow riders at risk. And that’s something I sincerely regret and apologise for."
Due to the 7-day suspension, Riesebeek will miss the Dutch national championships on June 29th.
Yellow card system
The UCI, the governing body of professional cycling, introduced the yellow card system in August last year in an attempt to make the sport safer. One yellow card, like in football, serves as a warning. Riders receive suspensions when they get two yellow cards during the same course.
Three yellow cards within a 30-day period constitutes a 14-day suspension, whereas six yellow cards in a 12-month period get the rider suspended for 30 days.