Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogacar secured his third Tour of Flanders victory on Sunday, matching a tournament record, but now finds himself potentially facing legal consequences after ignoring a red signal at a railroad crossing.
During the race, Pogacar and several other leading cyclists pushed through the railway intersection despite stop signals as they attempted to catch up with a breakaway group, while the remaining riders in the main pack stopped as directed.
The four-time Tour de France winner defended his actions, claiming race officials failed to provide adequate notice to brake for the crossing.
“Suddenly three guys jump on the middle of the road and start waving to stop,” he explained during a post-race media session. “How can you stop in one second? I think they could prevent this by stopping us before, no? Not 10 metres before the crossing.”
“I was thinking, maybe it’s like some protesters or something crazy is going on,” Pogacar added.
According to Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws, the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to pursue charges against the cyclists involved. The potential penalties could include monetary fines between 320 euros and 4,000 euros (approximately $4,609), along with an eight-day suspension from competition.
