Pogacar, Evenepoel risk fines up to €5000 and driving bans after Flanders railway violation

The incident occurred at a level crossing on Paepestraat in Wichelen with 212km remaining, where the warning lights turned red as the race approached. Riders at the front of the peloton continued across the tracks despite the signal, while those further back were forced to stop as the barriers came down. 

Among the front group were defending champion Tadej Pogačar, several of his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates, and Remco Evenepoel. Meanwhile, the chasing group, which included Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, was held up behind the closed crossing.

The race officials intervened, ordering the front split of the peloton to wait for those caught behind, while the breakaway was able to press on and build their advantage. No riders were excluded from the race following the incident.

Het Nieuwsblad contacted the UCI about the incident, where an anonymous commissaire said: “The rules are clear: riders must stop at a red light. Anyone who rides through it should be removed from the race."

However, VRT NWS have stated that it has been confirmed to them that the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to identify those who crossed the railway at the red light and bring them before a police judge. 

"The traffic regulations are clear: if the lights at a level crossing are red, you must stop. That is the case in everyday life, and naturally, that applies to a cycling race as well," explained spokesperson Frédéric Petit to VRT NWS.

The riders involved could face fines of up to €5,000, as well as a driving ban of at least eight days.

“Fourth-degree offences are the most serious traffic violations and typically result in a court summons before a police judge. A driving ban of at least eight days is also always imposed,” VRT NWS reported.

Meanwhile, the incident itself was not mentioned in the official jury report. Instead, Remco Evenepoel was cited for “irregular feeding,” having allegedly used a sticky bottle over a short distance. He received a fine of 200 Swiss francs, while his sports director Sven Vanthourenhout was fined 500 Swiss francs.

Tadej Pogačar also appeared in the report for “littering outside designated zones,” an offence that resulted in a 500 Swiss franc fine and a deduction of 25 UCI points.