{"id":589427,"date":"2026-04-08T03:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/589427\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T03:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:41:08","slug":"belgian-prosecutors-to-go-after-riders-for-rail-crossing-including-tadej-pogacar-at-flanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/589427\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian prosecutors to go after riders for rail crossing\u2013including Tadej Poga\u010dar at Flanders"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you were watching the Tour of Flanders<\/a>, you might have noticed it\u2013a bunch of riders went across a level crossing when the light was red. Now, it sounds like Belgian prosecutors are considering whether to bring charges against the riders, according to VRT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The incident came as the race passed through Wichelen. A split in the peloton saw one group ride across the tracks after the warning lights had already turned red. Those behind were forced to stop.<\/p>\n

Among those in the front group were race favourites including eventual winner Tadej Poga\u010dar and third-placed Remco Evenepoel.<\/p>\n

Driving bans?<\/p>\n

The East Flanders public prosecutor\u2019s office has launched an investigation. They say they will work to identify the riders involved before deciding who faces prosecution.<\/p>\n

Running a red light at a level crossing is considered a serious traffic offence in Belgium. It\u2019s typically handled in police court, with fines and potential driving bans on the table. The UCI hasn\u2019t weighed in\u2013although both Evenepoel and Pogi did get some fines, for something else.<\/p>\n

Clearly neither of them will be DQed\u2013it would have happened right after, or during the race.
Poga\u010dar said the situation was poorly handled, suggesting organisers should have stopped the race earlier rather than reacting at the last moment, which left riders confused and split the peloton at the crossing. He said that some of them were confused and thought it might have been a protest\u2013something we\u2019ve seen plenty of recently in pro racing.<\/p>\n

Rail operator weighs in<\/p>\n

However, rail operator Infrabel was quick to condemn the move. \u201cThe rules are clear: when the lights are red, you must stop,\u201d spokesperson Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Petit said<\/a>, stressing that the same standards apply during a race. He added that the situation \u201cis of course not a good example,\u201d particularly given the risks at level crossings.<\/p>\n

Chaos in Flanders as a train splits the bunch in two \ud83d\ude2e<\/p>\n

The break carry on unhindered and make more work for UAE Team Emirates \ud83d\ude29 pic.twitter.com\/AG8gQtmIEi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

There is still uncertainty over why no precautionary halt to train traffic was requested at that moment. this can sometimes happen with police and race orgs.<\/p>\n

At races, organizers try to coordinate the rail schedules to prevent this kind of thing. But it is hardly an exact science. Winds or the race sitch itself can screw that up, fast.<\/p>\n

The incident had little bearing on the outcome, with Poga\u010dar going on to take a third win. The world champion broke clear with Mathieu van der Poel and Evenepoel, and would ultimately solo to a magnificent win.<\/p>\n

As VRT\u2019s commentators put it, it was a case of \u201cthe luck of the herd\u201d \u2014 suggesting that had only a handful of riders crossed, they likely would have been pulled from the race.<\/p>\n

But with such a large amount of cyclists\u2013including Poga\u010dar himself, that didn\u2019t happen. It has happened a few times to some notable riders. Both Peter van Petegem and Taylor Phinney were DQed at Paris-Roubaix and The Tour of Britain, respectively.<\/p>\n