Flemish Prosecutor Targets Pogacar, Evenepoel and Riders With Fines and Driving Bans After Flanders Level Crossing Incident
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office has confirmed it intends to pursue legal action against the 20 to 30 riders who crossed a railway level crossing at a red light during the 2026 Tour of Flanders on Saturday. According to a statement released on Sunday morning, riders face fines ranging from 320 to 4,000 euros and a mandatory driving ban of at least eight days under Belgian traffic law, which makes no distinction between cyclists and motorists when it comes to level crossing violations.
The incident occurred approximately 200 kilometres into the race in the town of Wichelen, when safety barriers began descending and red warning lights activated to signal an approaching regional train. A front group containing Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and several other leading riders crossed the tracks before the barriers fully closed, while a second group containing Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert was held behind. Race organisers neutralised the event to allow the split peloton to regroup, but the legal question of whether the crossing constituted a traffic offence has now moved beyond the sporting arena entirely.
The prosecutor's office indicated it would work to identify the specific riders in the front group using television footage and timing data. An out-of-court settlement is apparently possible, though the office has not ruled out formal prosecutions. The question of personal liability versus organisational responsibility — given that professional races operate under police-escorted road closures but level crossings remain under separate railway jurisdiction — is likely to become a point of legal contention should any rider contest the charges.
The incident has reignited debate over race safety and the interaction between professional cycling events and public infrastructure. Belgian railway operator Infrabel stated that level crossing signals activate automatically and cannot be overridden by race organisers, meaning any race passing through a level crossing zone is inherently subject to train schedules. The UCI rule book is clear that riders must respect traffic signals, but enforcement at Monument-level races has historically been inconsistent, with commissaires often choosing to neutralise the race rather than disqualify riders caught on the wrong side of a crossing.
For Pogacar, who went on to win the race by 34 seconds with a devastating solo from the Oude Kwaremont, the legal proceedings are an unwelcome distraction heading into the most important week of his spring campaign. The Slovenian is targeting a historic Paris-Roubaix victory on April 12 that would make him only the fourth rider in history to win all five Monuments, and the prospect of legal proceedings — however minor the fines — adds a note of off-bike controversy to what has otherwise been a season of pure sporting dominance from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader.
Evenepoel, whose stunning Tour of Flanders debut earned him third place, also faces scrutiny. His Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team have not commented publicly on the prosecutor's statement. The Belgian was separately fined 200 Swiss Francs by the UCI for a sticky bottle incident during the race, while Pogacar received a 500 Swiss Franc fine and 25-point UCI deduction for littering outside the designated zone — minor sporting penalties that pale in comparison to the potential legal consequences now being discussed.
Whether the Flemish authorities ultimately pursue the matter to court or settle for out-of-court fines remains to be seen, but the precedent could have significant implications for how future races interact with Belgian railway infrastructure. Flanders Classics, the race organiser, has not yet responded to requests for comment but is understood to be reviewing its route planning processes in light of the incident. For now, the focus for the riders named shifts back to the road — and the 257 kilometres of cobbles, dust and suffering that await at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.