NSN issues apology after devo rider Kiaan Watts slaps rival mid-race

While most of the cycling world's eyes were on Italy, racing resumed further north at the one-day Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle, a 1.2-ranked Dutch race whose winners have included Dylan van Baarle, Elmar Reinders and Fabio Jakobsen. Parkhotel Valkenburg's Mathis Avondts added his name to the list, the first Belgian to do so in more than 20 years, but his win was overshadowed by an ugly altercation about 34 km from the finish. With the peloton strung out, 24-year-old Kiaan Watts moved onto the front of the race as Marijn Maas of BEAT p/b Saxo, only to give the Dutchman a powerful smack on the head, followed by some angry gesticulating. Watts was soon disqualified by the race jury, and his team released a statement a few hours after the race. "NSN Development Team deeply regrets the actions of Kiaan Watts today at the Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle race," the statement begins. "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."