In an Instagram post, a pro cyclist who was captured on video bunny-hopping across a lane divider before a blind bend says that he has been dismissed by his team.
28-year-old Kiko Galván, who rode for Equipo Kern Pharma, said he “made a mistake. A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them.”
The incident happened on L’Arrabassada, a notoriously dangerous stretch of road in Catalonia.
He added that he is “ashamed of having failed. Of disappointing my parents. My family. My girlfriend, who was the only one who supported me when everything was falling apart.”
Before this controversial video was shared, Galván had one of the best seasons of his career, including coming third at the Grand Prix la Marseillaise in February.
His team were quick to condemn his behaviour, saying in an Instagram comment, “We deeply regret and apologise for an action that does not reflect the values we promote: respect for road safety, which is fundamental to our sport and central to our work both competitively and educationally. We take full responsibility.”
In a longer subsequent statement, the team added, “We will be taking disciplinary measures with the cyclist involved to ensure situations like this are not repeated in the future.”
Galván has not revealed what his plans are, but shared that he’s “not saying goodbye. I’m just pausing. I’m breathing.
“And I’ll keep going, however I can, but with my feet on the ground. Because life doesn’t always let you choose the path, but it does let you choose how you walk it.”
La temeridad de Kiko Galván (ciclista profesional del Kern Pharma) mientras entrenaba en una carretera de Cataluña, que le puede costar muy caro#kikogalvan #equipokernpharma pic.twitter.com/UOeMVhKs43
— Avituallamiento Ciclista (@EVTMO_) October 2, 2025
He has since kept a low profile, saying “I train dressed in black. Not for aesthetics, but because that’s how I feel. And even so, people recognize me, stop me, ask me questions. And I smile, but inside I’m ashamed.”
He added that “I’m not writing this to elicit pity or to justify anything. I made a mistake. A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them.
“I apologize to anyone who has been affected. Giving up cycling doesn’t hurt.
“I lived cycling the way I wanted: to the fullest, with my heart, no half measures. What hurts is feeling like you’ve let your loved ones down. That’s the hardest part.”
The post also revealed that he had to sell his car after being dismissed from the team.
He said: “This year I had to sell my car after I was kicked off the team. I left the dealership and walked home. That’s when I understood how quickly everything can change.”
7 thoughts on ““A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them”: Pro cyclist “kicked off team” and pauses cycling career over dangerous bunny-hopping video”
Good to see a mistake being
Good to see a mistake being owned but I can’t help but feel the punishment didn’t fit the crime (at least from the outside looking in).
Surreyrider wrote:
Agree, on the face of it a reprimand and some remedial education would seem sufficient. One wonders if perhaps he’s got previous and has been warned to stop playing silly buggers before and this was the last straw.
A bit harsh, perhaps there’s
A bit harsh, perhaps there’s more going on here than meets the eye.. If every young man lost his job for doing something stupid then we’d all be out of work
Massive over reaction by the
Massive over reaction by the team. I guess you just have to be on best behaviour in team colours.
Yes I think definitely too
Yes I think definitely too harsh…A suspension would more fit the offense…
But I do like the rim brakes on his bike…I wonder if the entire team uses them ?
Love to Ride wrote:
The rim brake picture caption says “Burgos 2020” and in the offending video, which presumably is 2025, he’s got discs, so one assumes not even he still uses them.
Very stupid, very dangerous,
Very stupid, very dangerous, and when you’re a Pro you’re a role model for young and aspiring riders.
I cant help thinking the team could have made something positive out of this by getting him to make a fulsome apology, and explain why it was so stupid, when enough riders are already dying just by being on the road and doing the RIGHT things, let alone stupid shit like this.
Maybe this was part of a pattern of bad behaviour which already existed? It does seem overly harsh on the face of it though.
(He does redeem himself slightly by the use of the Chili Peppers in his video though).