The police had to pull him out of the race: Van Schip is once again pushing the limits of UCI regulations.

Jan-Willem van Schip is back in the news for reasons far removed from his racing successes. The Dutch rider for Azerion Villa Valkenburg—whom we’ve mentioned before due to his disqualifications and warnings related to extreme aerodynamic setups and non-compliant equipment—was at the center of yet another unusual incident this weekend at the 2026 Ronde de l’Oise. This time, the situation ended with the intervention of the French gendarmerie after the cyclist refused to leave the race following his disqualification.

French police had to remove Jan-Willem van Schip from the race following yet another disqualification

According to reports by Ouest-France and WielerFlits, Van Schip was disqualified during the fourth and final stage of the French race for a violation of the UCI’s clothing regulations. The jury determined that he was carrying a water bottle hidden under his jersey, resting against his chest and abdomen—a practice that violates current regulations, although it is highly aerodynamic for carrying water.

The situation quickly escalated when the Dutch rider decided to continue racing despite being disqualified. In a race radio recording released later, Italian race director Rosella Bonfanti can be heard reporting the situation: “Rider number 31 is refusing to leave the race despite having been disqualified. He will be arrested by the gendarmerie.”

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Shortly thereafter, French officers present along the route intervened to detain the rider. Both Ouest-France and the team itself confirmed that the police had to intervene to remove him from the race. Footage shared on social media shows Van Schip being restrained and tackled by officers after refusing to obey the race officials’ instructions.

The race’s official statement notes that the disqualification resulted from a violation of Article 2.12.007 of the UCI regulations, concerning the use of “non-compliant clothing.” However, Van Schip himself claims that he was later told the specific reason was carrying a water bottle inside his jersey, which is also prohibited under Article 1.3.032 of the regulations.

In addition to being expelled from the race, the Dutch rider received a fine of 300 Swiss francs for failing to comply with the commissaires’ instructions and for using non-regulation equipment.

The penalty came on top of another one received just two days earlier during the second stage of the same race. On that occasion, he was fined 200 Swiss francs and lost five UCI points for using a position on the bike deemed non-compliant and potentially dangerous to himself or other riders.

The rider publicly defended his actions and stated he did not understand the reasons for the penalty.

“It seemed very strange to me. For a long time, I didn’t receive any clear explanation of exactly what the problem was. They just told me they were taking me out of the race. Later they told me they had disqualified me because I was carrying a water bottle inside my jersey,” Van Schip explained on social media.

The Dutch rider also recounted how the confrontation with the race officials unfolded.

“The jury walked right past me, and I asked, ‘Is my position on the bike correct now?’ The man completely lost it,” he said.

According to his account, he tried to find a solution before the situation escalated: “I asked, ‘What's the problem? Can I hide the water bottle with you, or do I have to throw it here?’”

A long list of conflicts with the UCI

Although disqualifications are relatively rare in professional cycling, Van Schip has already racked up several in just a few years.

Last May, he was expelled from the Tour of Hellas for resting his forearms on the handlebars in a position considered illegal. Months earlier, at the Tour of Holland, he was disqualified because his bike did not comply with technical regulations.

That constant quest for aerodynamic advantages has made the Dutchman one of the most controversial riders in the peloton. A two-time track world champion, 2019 points race world champion, and 2023 madison world champion, Van Schip has built a reputation almost as closely tied to technical innovation as to his frequent clashes with UCI officials.

His latest incident in France adds a new chapter to an increasingly tense relationship between one of the peloton’s most creative riders and regulations that the UCI continues to tighten regarding safety and equipment.