SHOCKED: United States cycle tourists Russ Roca and Laura Crawford. "The whole thing was surreal,'' said Mr Roca.

A man has been charged after an American cyclist was crash-tackled and punched in a road-rage incident in Wellington.

Tourists Russ Roca, 33, and Laura Crawford, 32, of Oregon, were riding their collapsible bikes on a two-lane section of Riddiford St, Newtown, about 4.30pm when a man driving a rented silver sedan passed them "really really close, almost aggressively".

The motorist pulled over and came at the cyclists, running after them and tackling Mr Roca off his bike and punching him in the face.

A 39-year-old man was arrested last night and charged with assault, Inspector Paris Razos said.

He will appear in Wellington District Court on Wednesday.