'How can you stop in one second?' – 54 riders could be fined after jumping red light at the Tour of Flanders

During the recent Tour of Flanders, a significant breach of traffic regulations occurred when 54 riders crossed a red light at a railway crossing just over 70 kilometres into the race. This incident has prompted an investigation by the Belgian prosecutor’s office, as jumping a red light is considered one of the most serious traffic offences in Belgium. Among those involved were prominent race leaders Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, who crossed before the barriers were lowered, while other top contenders like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were held back by the barriers. The situation sparked frustration among the riders, with Pogačar expressing his discontent during the post-race press conference, highlighting the difficulty of stopping abruptly at high speeds within a tightly packed peloton. The prosecutor’s office emphasised the significant risks posed to both riders and third parties by such actions and indicated that violations would be dealt with strictly, potentially resulting in fines and driving bans. The incident also contravenes UCI regulations, which explicitly forbid crossing level crossings when barriers are down or warning signals are active, with penalties including suspension and fines. Despite the severity of the offence, race organisers opted not to disqualify the riders who crossed the red light. Instead, they slowed the race pace for the following four kilometres to allow the group delayed by the barriers to catch up. Sep Vanmarcke, sports director at Soudal Quick-Step, pointed out the challenges riders face in recognising the red light in time, given the speed and positioning within the peloton. He stressed the shared responsibility between organisers and authorities to manage safety effectively, as riders cannot be expected to anticipate train arrivals. While no formal fines have yet been imposed by Belgian authorities, Pogačar and Evenepoel have already paid penalties for unrelated minor infractions during the race. An out-of-court settlement remains a possibility as the riders await further decisions regarding sanctions for the red light violation. The incident raises important questions about race safety protocols and the enforcement of traffic laws in professional cycling events.