A routine training ride on Spain’s Costa Blanca has ended with an unexpected bill for Groupama – FDJ, after ten of the French WorldTour team’s riders were fined by local police near Lliber.
The incident occurred close to Calpe, where many professional teams are currently based for winter training camps. According to reports from Spanish media, the riders were stopped after passing a red traffic light on a narrow section of road where traffic is regulated alternately in one direction at a time.
Police immediately intervened and issued individual fines of 100 euros to each rider, bringing the total cost of the incident to 1,000 euros for the team. The sanction is the standard penalty applied for this type of road offence under Spanish traffic law.
One of the riders involved, Ewen Costiou, later shared details of the incident on Strava. However, comments linked to the post have since disappeared from the platform, adding further attention to the episode.Increased scrutiny on pro cyclists in Spain
The fine comes amid growing awareness within the peloton that professional cyclists are facing particularly strict enforcement during winter training blocks in Spain. With large groups of riders sharing roads with regular traffic, local authorities have shown little tolerance for infractions, regardless of the riders’ professional status.
Just days earlier, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team rider Johannes Staune Mittet revealed that he had been fined for riding while wearing AirPods during a training session. He received a 200 euro penalty, which could be reduced to 100 euros if paid immediately, highlighting how closely riders are being monitored.
As teams continue to base themselves in popular training hubs like Calpe and Denia, the Groupama – FDJ incident serves as another reminder that winter preparation now comes with heightened responsibility off the bike as well as on it.